UC-NRLF 


bb? 


ills!)  Otasics 


BRYDEN 
PALAMON 

AND 

ARC1TE 

COOK 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

GIFT    OF 

w       00- 
,     .vAArsA^/ 


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/  -7/3  5  c  O 


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SCOTT,  FORESMAN  AND  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS,  37P-388  WABASH  AVENUE,  CHICAGO 


tTbe  Xafee  £naliab 


EDITED  BY 

LINDSAY  TODD  DAMON,  A.  B. 

of  Rhetoric  in  Brown  Univwtity 


TTbe  Xafee  Bngltsb  Classics 


PALAMON   AND    AROITE 

OR  THE  KNIGHT'S   TALE 

N 

FROM  CHAUCER 


BY 


JOHN    DRYDEN 


EDITED  FOR   SCHOOL   USE 
BY 

MAY  ESTELLE  COOK,  A.B. 

INSTRUCTOR  IK  ENGLISH,  SOUTH  BID!  ACADBMT,  OHICAOO 


UNIVERSITY 

OF    ^ 


CHICAGO 

SCOTT,  FORESMAN  AND  COMPANY 
1908 


Copyright  1898, 
By  SCOTT,  FORESMAN  AND  COMPANY 


HOBERT      O          LAW      COMPANY, 
PRINTERS    AND     Bl  N  DERS,  CH  ICACO 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

PREFACE     -                       7 

INTRODUCTION 

Chaucer    .-•-•-••  9 

Dryden         .        .        .                 ....  16 

The  Story  of  Palamon  and  Arcite                •  22 

DrydeirsjStyle    -                                          -        -  23 

Dryden's  Estimate  of  Chaucer     -  32 

Suggestions  to  Teachers    ....        -  33 

Bibliography  38 

TEXT                                                                  -       -  39 

NOTES    ......  145 

GLOSSARY 166 

INDEX    •••••       ....  172 


204501 


PREFACE 

This  edition  of  Palamon  and  Arcite  aims  to  give 
the  pupil  only  such  information  and  stimulus  as 
will  enable  him  to  do  his  best  work.  The  notes 
luive  been  prepared  in  the  belief  that  stimulus  to 
literary  appreciation  is  quite  as  necessary  to  the 
young  student  as  the  understanding  of  facts,  and 
liave  therefore  been  made  suggestive  as  well  as 
critical.  The  unique  feature  of  the  edition,  that 
of  footnotes  from  Chaucer's  text,  has  been  intro- 
duced in  the  hope  that  comparative  study  will  not 
only  add  zest  to  the  pupil's  work,  but  will  give 
him  a  basis  for  forming  opinions  of  his  own,  and 
will  consequently  foster  keenness  of  insight  and 
power  of  enjoyment. 

The  text  of  Dry  den  used  is  that  of  W.  D. 
Christie  (Macmillan,  1893),  the  Chaucer  text,  that 
of  Morris  and  Skeafs  Prologue  and  Kni-ghtes  Tale 
in  the  Clarendon  Press  Series. 

M.  E.  C. 


OF    THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


INTRODUCTION 

CHAUCER 

In  the  year  1340,*  six  years  before  the  battle  of 
Crecy,  there  was  born  in  London  a  child  who  was 
destined  to  perpetuate  in  English  the  stories  of 
chivalry.  At  Crecy,  where  cannon  were  used  for 
the  first  time  in  European  warfare,  there  appeared 
a  force  which  was  bound  finally  to  destroy  chiv- 
alry;  for  neither  Norman  castles  nor  Norman  armor 
could  withstand  the  power  of  firearms.  But  that 
result  was  long  in  coming  about.  Throughout  the 
reign  of  Edward  III.  the  fashion  of  chivalry  was 
at  its  height ;  the  ideal  warrior  was  still  the  knight 
with  "crested  morion"  and  the  lady's  favor  on  his 
sleeve.  Moreover,  the  English  mind,  which  is 
often  a  little  slow  in  its  appreciation  of  the  artistic 
value  of  things,  had  not  until  the  fourteenth 
century  wakened  to  the  fact  that  the  knight  was 
not  only  a  warrior,  but  also  a  fit  subject  for  song 
and  story.  Englishmen,  especially  those  who  had 
been  on  the  crusades,  began  to  long  for  tales  of 
knightly  deeds,  such  as  were  already  being  sung 
by  the  poets  of  France  and  Italy.  The  time  was 

*  This  date  is  not  definitely  settled,  but  Chaucer's 
birth  was  certainly  nearer  1340  than  the  traditional  1328. 


10  INTRODUCTION 

ripe  therefore  for  a  master  poet  who  would  tell 
those  same  stories,  and  others,  in  the  English 
tongne.  That  master  poet  came  in  the  person  of 
Geoffrey  Chaucer. 

Chaucer  was  happy  in  having  not  only  a  poet's 
power  and  a  poet's  opportunity,  but  also  in  living 
at  the  court  of  Edward  III.,  the  very  heart  of  the 
English  life  of  the  fourteenth  century,  and  being 
worldly  wise  in  the  interesting  fashions  of  the 
times.  It  was  a  time  of  strange  contrasts,  when 
the  romance  of  feudalism  was  jostling  against  the 
prosaic  good  sense  of  a  growing  business  world, 
and  the  struggle  between  them  was  not  yet  decided. 
Chaucer  was  involved  in  both  sides  of  the  struggle 
in  a  way  which  to  us  seems  almost  contradictory, 
but  which  at  the  time  was  quite  possible  and 
natural;  he  was  both  a  romancer  and  a  man  of 
affairs,  and  scarcely  more  the  one  than  the  other. 

At  sixteen  or  seventeen  he  became  a  page  to 
'Fljffp.hftf  h  f  DrjphAqfi  of  C1fl.rp.np.ftj  the  wife  of  Lionel, 
son  of  Edward  III.,  and  from  that  time  on  he  was 
all  his  life  more  or  less  actively  engaged  in  the 
service  of  the  royal  family.  Perhaps  it  was  while 
he  was  a  page,  in  the  intervals  of  running  errands 
and  polishing  armor,  that  he  began  to  turn  his 
reading  to  account  by  putting  into  his  own  words 
the  stories  he  read;  for  we  know  that  even 
then  he  was  an  omnivorous  reader,  and  nothing 
could  be  more  natural  than  that  he  should  have 
entertained  the  other  pages,  and  even  the  young 


CHAUCER  11 

princes,  one  of  whom,  John  of  Gaunt,  was  about 
his  own  age,  with  the  recital  of  wonderful  tales 
from  Ovid  or  the  French  romancers.  But  whatever 
the  reason  was,  the  young  Chaucer  soon  became  a 
favorite  with  the  court.  He  went  with  the  army 
to  France  in  1359,  and  when  taken  prisoner  was 
ransomed  by  no  less  a  person  than  the  king  himself. 
To  be  sure,  the  king  paid  less  for  the  freedom  of 
the  young  poet  than  he  paid  the  next  day  for  a 
good  horse;  but  that  fact  did  not  prove  that  he 
held  his  servant  in  slight  regard,  for  he  soon  took 
Chaucer  into  his  own  service,  spoke  of  him  as 
"dilectus  vcdettus  noster,"  and  granted  him  a 
pension  and  a  gift  of  clothes  every  Christmas. 
Chaucer  married  a  maid  of  honor  who  was  a  name- 
sake of  the  good  Queen  Philippa,  the  wife  of 
Edward  III. 

He  rose  steadily  in  royal  favor,  holding  several 
important  positions,  among  them  that  of  Comp- 
troller of  Customs  for  the  port  of  London;  in  this 
position  he  was  obliged  to  make  the  4 'rolls,  "- 
that  is,  the  bills  and  accounts, — with  his  own  hand, 
a  task  which  was  no  easy  one,  and  the  accomplish- 
ment of  which  proved  him  a  competent  business 
man.  He  was  sent  abroad  on  many  important 
missions,  such  as  negotiating  treaties,  and  arrang- 
ing for  the  marriage  of  the  Black  Prince's  son, 
who  afterwards  became  Richard  II.  There  is  a 
tradition,  but  no  real  proof,  that  on  one  of  these 
journeys  (1372-3)  he  visited  Boccaccio  at  Florence 


12  INTRODUCTION 

and  Petrarch  at  Padua.  In  1386  he  sat  in 
Parliament  as  a  knight  of  the  shire  from  Kent. 
For  a  time  after  Edward  III.  died,  and  while 
John  of  (Jaunt,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  who  was 
Chaucer's  patron  and  especial  friend,  was  away 
from  England,  Chaucer  lost  his  offices,  and  became 
acquainted  with  the  sorrows  of  poverty  and 
neglect.  But  perhaps  he  needed  that  experience 
to  show  him  all  sides  of  life.  In  any  event  his 
greatest  poverty  did  not  last  long,  for  Richard  II. 
remembered  his  early  services  and  gave  him  an 
office.  When  John  of  Gaunt 's  son  came  to  the 
throne  as  Henry  IV.  he  promptly  granted  his 
father's  friend  a  comfortable  pension;  so  that 
before  Chaucer  died  in  1400  he  was  happy  in  the 
certainty  of  his  sovereign's  favor.  He  was  the  first 
person  buried  in  the  Poet's  Corner  of  Westminster 
Abbey. 

All  through  his  long  life,  Chaucer  was  reading 
and  writing.  He  re-told  many  French  and  Italian 
romances,  but  always,  as  Shakspere  did,  in  a  way 
that  made  them  thoroughly  English  in  tone;  for 
he  borrowed  only  the  thread  of  the  story,  often 
changing  even  that  to  suit  his  fancy,  and  making 
the  details,  the  words,  and  the  turn  of  thought/ 
new.  One  of  his  early  long  poems  was  the  Bofce 
of  the  Duchess,  written  in  honor  of  John  of 
Gaunt 's  first  wife,  who  died  in  1369.  A  little 
later  he  wrote  what  he  called  his  "little  tragedy' 
of  Troilus  and  Cresseide;  about  the  same  time 


CHAUCER  13 

he  made  his  first  version  of  TJte  Story  of  Palamon 
and  Arcite.  Another  long  poem,  called  the 
Legende  of  Good  Women,  he  wrote  at  the  queen's 
request,  to  make  up  for  some  of  the  sarcastic 
things  he  had  said  about  women  in  his  early 
poems;  next  to  the  Canterbury  Tales  it  was  his 
best  work.  The  Canterbury  Tales,  a  collection 
of  twenty -four  stories,  was  begun  about  1388;  and 
upon  this  poem,  which  was  his  masterpiece, 
Chaucer  spent  a  large  share  of  the  last  twelve  years 
of  his  life. 

Chaucer  himself  must  have  been  a  pleasant  man 
to  know.  From  passages  scattered  through  his 
poems  we  suppose  that  he  was  short  and  plump, 
that  he  was  ''small  and  fair  of  face,"  that  he  had 
a  shy,  "elfish"  look,  that  he  usually  carried  his 
head  bent  forward  and  looked  on  the  ground  "us 
he  would  find  a  hare,"  and  that  his  eyes  were 
dazed  with  hard  reading.  He  is  pictured  with  a 
forked  beard,  " wheat  color"  when  he  was  young 
and  gray  when  he  was  not  yet  old,  and  with  a  dark 
gown  reaching  to  his  feet  and  an  ink-horn  at  his 
side.  Chaucer  loved  books,  and  perhaps  was 
thinking  of  himself  when  he  said  of  the  Clerk: 

For  him  was  levere1  have  at  his  beddes  heed 

Twenty  bokes,  clad  in  blak  or  reed 

Of  Aristotle  and  his  philosophye, 

Than  robes  riche,  or  fithele,2  or  gay  sautrye.3 

1  liefer,  i.  e.  rather;  -  fidrtln;  "  a  psaltery,  a  musical  instrument, 
something  like  a  harp. 


1-J-  INTRODUCTION 

But  better  than  books  he  loved  the  "softc, 
smalle,  swote  (sweet)  grass,"  and  his  idea  of 
happiness  was  to  lie  on  the  grass  of  a  May  morning 
and  watch  a  daisy  open  to  the  sun.  It  seems  to  us 
now,  as  we  go  back  to  him  after  reading  the  poetry 
of  the  nineteenth  century,  that  he  was  curiously 
limited  in  his  appreciation  of  nature,  for  he  never 
mentions  the  sea  nor  the  sky  nor  the  mountains ; 
but  the  meadows  and  flowers  and  birds,  to  which  his 
eyes  were  open,  he  speaks  of  with  a  simplicity  and 
tenderness  which  we  do  not  find  again  until  we 
read  the  lines  of  Burns  and  Wordsworth.  Chaucer 
loved  men  and  women,  too.  Although  he  lived 
among  .courtiers  and  princes,  he  did  not  scorn 
millers  and  ploughmen.  He  looked  at  people 
through  very  keen  eyes,  and  laughed  at  their 
foibles,  but  without  bitterness.  He  was  reticent 
and  quiet  in  manner,  but  in  spite  of  that  fact  his 
enjoyment  of  all  sorts  of  society  was  genuine. 
One  can  easily  imagine  him  sitting  among  a  chance 
company  of  travelers  such  as  he  describes  in  the 
Canterbury  Tales,  seeing  and  hearing  everything 
without  appearing  to  watch  any  one,  laughing 
quietly  to  himself  now  and  then,  saying  never  u 
word  until  he  was  called  upon  to  speak,  and  then 
telling  a  better  story  than  any  of  the  company  had 
ever  heard  before. 

Besides  making  many  French  and  Italian  stories 
available  in  English,  and  adding  to  them  not  a 
few  stories  of  his  own,  Chaucer  did  another  good 


CHAUCER  15 

Her  vice  for  English  literature,  and  indeed  for  all 
English  speaking  people.  Before  the  reign  of 
Edward  III.  there  was  no  literary  language  in 
England  which  really  deserved  the  name  of  Eng- 
lish. Since,  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror 
the  Norman  kings  and  their  followers  had  gone  on 
speaking  Norman-French,  while  the  conquered 
Anglo-Saxons  had  held  to  their  own  tongue.  The 
two  languages  had  been  coming  nearer  together  all 
the  time,  as  the  two  peoples  gradually  became  one 
nation.  But  it  was  not  until  the  time  of  Edward 
III.  that  the  new  language,  made  of  the  union  of 
Norman  and  Anglo-Saxon,  became  the  speech  of 
the  nation.  None  of  the  deeds  of  the  great 
Edward  are  more  worthy  of  remembrance  than  that 
he  decreed  that  English  should  be  the  language 
of  court  and  school.  Norman  courtiers  had  to 
learn  English,  no  matter  how  much  they  preferred 
French;  and  school -boys  from  that  time  on  trans- 
lated their  Latin  exercises  into  English.  The 
writers  who  wished  to  be  widely  read  must  write 
in  English;  accordingly  Langland  wrote  his 
Piers  the  Plowman  in  English,  and  Wyclif  trans- 
lated the  Bible  into  English.  But  the  language 
of  both  Langland  and  Wyclif  was  crude  and 
rugged;  it  was  like  a  hard  path,  full  of  jagged, 
unbroken  stones.  It  was  Chaucer  who  proved  first 
that  English,  in  the  hands  of  a  master,  might  be 
smooth-flowing  and  musical.  The  manuscripts  of 
Wyclif 's  Bible  were  being  made  while  Chaucer 


10  INTRODUCTION7 

was  writing  the  Canterbury  Tales,  but  to  us  now 
it  seems  as  though  Wyclifs  work  might  be  a 
hundred  years  or  more  older  than  Chaucer's 
because  his  language  is  so  much  more  primitive,  so 
much  less  finished  than  Chaucer's.  It  is  for  this 
reason  that  the  period  of  modern  English  literature 
is  often  dated  from  Chaucer.  Granted  that  his 
manner  is  antiquated,  that  his  words  often  need 
translation,  it  is  still  true  that  most  of  his  lines 
are  intelligible  to  us,  and  that  as  much  .cannot  be 
said  of  any  other  writer  of  his  time.  For  his  modern- 
ness,  as  well  as  the  beauty  of  his  language,  his 
pupil  Lydgate  called  him  the  "load-star  of  our 
language,"  Spenser  said  he  was  "the  well  of 
English  undefiled,"  and  Tennyson  sang  of  him 
as  "Dan  Chaucer,  the  first  warbler." 

DRYDEX 

The  life  of  the  seventeenth  century,  in  spite  of 
the  great  stir  made  by  the  wars  of  Roundheads  and 
Cavaliers,  seems  less  romantic  to  us  than  that  of 
the  fourteenth  century,  though  perhaps  not  rightly 
so.  In  the  same  way,  and  with  more  reason,  the 
life  of  Dryden  appears  much  more  prosaic  than 
that  of  Chaucer.  Dryden  was  born  in  1631,  in 
the  parish  of  Aldwinkle,  Northampton.  There  he 
lived  the  ordinary  life  of  an  English  boy  of  good 
family,  studying,  visiting,  and  fishing — a  sport  for 
which  he  never  lost  his  fondness.  When  he  was 
thirteen  there  was  a  dav  of  excitement  at  his 


DRYDEN  17 

father's  house,  when  a  force  of  Parliamentarians 
barricaded  themselves  in  the  church  hard  by,  and 
were  captured  and  imprisoned  by  a  force  of  Boyal- 
ists.  But  it  is  probable  that  young  Dry  den  was 
away  at  school  at  the  time;  certainly  he  never 
referred  to  the  event  in  his  writings.  He  prepared 
for  the  university  at  the  famous  school  in  West- 
minster, where  he  was  a  favorite  with  the  master, 
Dr.  Busby,  and  where  he  wrote  good  Latin  exercises 
and  his  first  English  verse.  He  took  his  degree  at 
Cambridge  in  1654  and  then  stayed  at  the  university 
until  1657,  for  farther  study.  From  Cambridge 
he  went  to  London,  where  he  soon  became  famous. 
In  1663  he  married  Lady  Elizabeth  Howard;  but 
tradition  says,  whether  truly  or  not,  that  the 
marriage  was  not  a  happy  one.  For  a  time  he 
held  a  position  which  Chaucer  had  held,  that  of 
Comptroller  of  Customs  for  the  port  of  London ; 
but  in  his  case  the  position  wras  never  more  than 
an  honorary  one,  and  probably  even  tho  pay  was  not 
very  regular.  In  1670  Dryden  was  made  poet 
laureate  and  royal  historiographer,  with  a  salary 
of  £200.  Even  before  this  time  he  had  become 
the  literary  king  of  London,  and  the  loyal  fol- 
lowers who  gathered  about  him  of  an  evening  at 
Will's  Coffee  House  took  his  slightest  word  as  final, 
whether  he  spoke  of  the  latest  news  or  of  politics 
or  of  the  drama  of  the  day  or  of  literature  in 
general.  Scott  gives  an  interesting,  though  of 
course  largely  imaginary  picture  of  him  and  his 


18  INTRODUCTION 

court,  in  Tlie  Pirate  (Chapter  XIV).  During 
most  of  his  life,  Dry  den  allowed  his  politics,  and 
his  religion  also,  to  be  decided  by  the  party  in 
power.  Under  the  Commonwealth  he  was  a 
Puritan,  under  Charles  II.  he  was  a  Royalist  and 
a  member  of  the  Established  Church,  and  under 
James  II.  he  became  a  Catholic.  When  the  Prot- 
estant William  and  Mary  came  to  the  throne, 
however,  he  refused  to  change  his  faith  again,  and 
lost  his  position  as  poet  laureate  in  consequence. 
Then,  like  Chaucer,  he  became  acquainted  with 
neglect  and  comparative  poverty.  But  he  set  him- 
self to  meet  his  misfortunes  with  hard. work,  and 
wrote  industriously  and  successfully  until  his  death 
in  1700.  He  was  buried  between  Chaucer  and 
( 'owley  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  think  of  Dryden 's  writ- 
ings apart  from  his  life.  More  truly  than  of 
almost  any  other  poet  it  might  be  said  of  him  that 
his  work  was  his  life.  Moreover,  most  of  Dryden's 
poems  were  "occasional"  pieces,  written  to  cele- 
brate some  event  in  whifch  he  was  interested  either 
by  his  own  choice  or  by  the  king's  wishes.  The 
poem  which  brought  Dryden  into  notice  and  made 
him  decide  on  literature  as  a  profession  was  the 
Heroic  Stanzas,  written  in  praise  of  Cromwell  at 
the  time  of  the  great  Protector's  death.  When 
Charles  II.  came  to  his  father's  throne,  Dryden 
was  ready  with  praise  for  him  also,  and  wrote  the 
Astrcea  Redux  (Justice  Returned)  to  celebrate  the 


DRYDEN  19 

young  monarch's  return.  With  the  Restoration 
came  a  revival  of  the  drama,  and  Dryden,  always 
ready  to  turn  his  hand  to  the  need  of  the  hour, 
began  to  write  plays.  At  first  he  wrote  comedies, 
but  they  went  badly,  With  tragedies  he  had  better 
success,  though  as  we  read  his  plays  now  we  think 
it  must  have  been  the  perverted  taste  of  the 
audience  or  the  elaborate  stage  setting — in  one  play 
there  were  singing  angels  and  a  vision  of  Paradise 
— that  carried  them  through.  But  these  plays, 
most  of  which  were  written  in  rhyme,  did  good  at 
least  in  the  matter  of  training  Dryden  to  use  his 
tools ;  for  when  the  time  came  for  his  satires  and 
didactic  poems,  he  had  become  a  master  of  the  art 
of  versification.  In  1666  he  wrote  the  Anmis 
Jfirafahs,  a  poem  which  celebrated  the  wars  with 
Holland  and  the  Great  Fire  of  London.  The 
occasion  of  his  first  satire,  called  Absalom  and 
AcJiitophelj  was  the  Popish  plot.  In  this  poem 
the  poet  undertook  the  defense  of  the  king  against 
Shrewsbury — Achitophel — and  the  excuse  of  the 
Duke  of  Monmouth — Absalom.  The  Religio  Laici, 
Dryden 's  next  important  poem,  has  been  called  the 
greatest  English  didactic  poem;  it  was  written  in 
a  moderate  and  apparently  sincere  spirit  of  approval 
of  the  views  of  the  Church  of  England.  Dry  den's 
last  long  poem,  The  Hind  and  the  Panther,  was 
written  after  the  accession  of  James  II.,  and  is  an 
allegorical  defense  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
under  the  symbol  of  the  snow-white  hind,  against 


20  INTRODUCTION 

the  attacks  of  the  English  Church,  which  is 
symbolized  by  the  spotted  panther.  When  Drydcn 
lost  his  position  as  laureate  he  again  wrote  plays. 
Most  of  his  plays,  both  early  and  late,  were 
adaptations  of  Shakspere  or  Moliere  or  other 
dramatists,  or  dramatizations  of  popular  stories; 
he  even  composed  an  opera,  using  Paradise  Lost 
as  a  basis.  Of  his  dramas  the  best  are  All  for 
Love  and  Don  Sebastian.  Late  in  life  Dryden 
undertook  translations  also.  He  translated  Vergil, 
and  passages  from  Homer,  Theocritus,  Ovid, 
Horace  and  Lucretius.  His  last  undertakings  were 
his  book  of  Fables,  which  contained  modern 
renderings  of  Chaucer,  translations  from  Ovid  and 
Boccaccio,  and  the  second  St.  Cecilia  Ode,  which 
is  usually  called  Alexander's  Feast.  Dry  den's 
prose  writing  was  always  subordinate  to  his  poetry, 
and  consisted  of  prefaces  to  his  poems  or  defenses 
of  them.  His  chief  essay,  that  on  dramatic  poetry, 
is  an  attempt  to  prove  that  rhyme  is  suitable  for 
tragedy.  His  prose  style  has,  however,  stood  the 
test  of  time  better  than  his  poetic  style,  because  it 
is  clear,  simple,  and  direct. 

Early  in  his  career,  when  Dryden  felt  called  upon 
to  explain  his  failure  as  a  writer  of  comedies,  he 
said  of  himself:  "My  conversation  is  slow  and  dull, 
my  humour  saturnine  and  reserved;  in  short,  1  am 
none  of  those  who  endeavour  to  break  jests  in 
company,  and  make  repartees."  Perhaps  in  this 
confession  Dryden  was  a  little  too  hard  on  him  self; 


DRYDEX  'I  I 

but  he  doubtless  told  more  than  a  half -truth. 
There  have  been  many  conflicting  opinions  about 
his  character.  The  truth  of  the  matter  seems  to 
be  that,  living  as  he  did  in  the  unimaginative  last 
half  of  the  seventeenth  century,  when  men  made 
too  much  of  their  reason  and  valued  too  lightly 
warmth  of  heart,  Dry  den  was  rather  too  cold  and 
practical.  He  was  in  danger  of  caring  more  for  an 
argument  than  for  the  man  who  made  it,  and  more 
for  a  well-turned  line  than  for  the  moral  effect  of 
the  idea  it  expressed.  He  lived  a  life  too  narrowly 
literary.  He  did  sometimes  go  to  the  country  for 
a  short  visit ;  but  he  was  usually  hard  at  work  in 
London,  he  never  went  abroad,  and  he  never  saw 
life  except  through  the  eyes  of  a  writer  and  critic. 
Wordsworth  says  that  " there  is  not  a  single  image 
from  nature  in  all  of  Dryden 's  works, "  and  while 
that  criticism  is  not  literally  true,  as  some  half 
dozen  lines  in  Palamou  and  Arcite  testify,  it  is 
true  that  Dryden  did  not  love  nature  well  enough 
to  break  away  from  the  literary  conventionalities 
of  his  time.  He  was  not  "saturnine;"  but  he  was 
rather  cold  and  stiff,  and  not  so  frank__and,  joyous 
and  responsive  to  the  world  and  the  people  in  it 
as  Chaucer  was. 

Dryden  must  not,  however,  be  criticised  too 
severely.  He  lived  in  the  beginning  of  the  "classic 
age"  of  English  literature,  when  it  was  the  fashion 
to  study  Homer  and  Vergil  rather  than  life,  and  to 
imitate  the  classics  rather  than  to  write  new  verses 


:2  •-;  INTRODUCTION 

that  should  be  truer  than  the  classics  to  modern 
life.  The  result  was  inevitable;  there  was  an 
artificial  standard  for  literature,  and  people  did 
not  ask  of  a  new  poem  "Is  it  true?''  but  "Is  it 
like  the  classics?^  Dryden,  certainly,  was  partly 
responsible  for  setting  this  fashion;  but  he  also,  in 
part,  merely  reflected  his  age.  If  he  was  a  trifle  cold 
lie  was  full  of  manly  vigor  and  enterprise;  if  he 
was  sometimes  coarse  he  was  always  witty  and  work- 
manlike; if  he  did  not  study  very  closely  the  feel- 
ings of  the  human  heart  he  did  study  the  workings 
of  the  human  mind,  and  leave  us  a  fairly  clear 
record  of  the  thought  of  his  day. 

THE  STOKY  OF  PALAMOX  AXI)  ARCITE 

The  story  of  Palamon  and  Arcite  is  the  first 
one  told  by  Chaucer  in  the  series  of  stories  called 
the  Canterbury  Tales.  In  the  Prologue  of  the 
Canterbury  Tales  Chaucer  tells  how  twenty-nine 
pilgrims  spend  the  night  at  the  Tabard  Inn  in 
Southwark  on  their  way  to  the  shrine  of  St.  Thomas 
a  Becket  at  Canterbury,  and  how,  as  they  start  out 
together  the  next  morning,  they  agree  to  enliven 
the  journey  by  telling  stories.  As  the  company  is 
a  motley  one,  including  a  knight,  a  squire,  a 
yeoman,  a  prioress,  a  monk,  a  friar,  a  merchant,  a 
clerk  (student),  a  sergeant  of  law  (lawyer),  a 
franklin  (country  gentleman),  a  haberdasher,  a 
doctor,  a  ploughman,  a  miller,  and  several  other 
people,  the  stories  are  of  very  different  sorts  and 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

are  told  in  very  different  fashions.  Some  of 
them,  indeed,  Chaucer  feels  called  upon  to  apolo- 
gize for;  not  so  for  this  first  one,  which  is  told  by 
the  knight,  who  naturally  speaks  first  because  of 
his  social  position.  Chaucer  calls  the  story  simply 
The  Knightes  Tale.  The  knight  himself  is  repre- 
sented as  having  just  come  home  from  the  crusades 
and  as  still  wearing  a  buff  jerkin  stained  with  the 
wear  of  his  armor ;  accordingly  this  tale  of  chival- 
rous-devotion and  knightly  deeds  comes  appropri- 
ately from  his  lips. 

The  origin  of  the  story  of  Palam-on  and  Areit*> 
is  not  known.  It  is  quite  possible  that  it  was  told 
at  first  as  an  independent  story,  and  was  afterwards 
connected  with  the  name  of  Theseus,  because  this 
name  was  a  favorite  subject  of  romance,  and  came 
to  be  used  in  many  legends  which  did  not  originally 
belong  to  Theseus  himself.  However  that  may 
be,  it  was  taken  from  the  Latin  poet  Statins  by 
Boccaccio,  who  elaborates  it  in  his  Teseide  into  a 
poem  of  ten  thousand  lines.  In  Boccaccio's  hands 
it  lias  all  the  characteristics  of  a  medieval  tale; 
for  example,  the  prayers  of  Emily  and  the  two 
knights  before  the  tournament  are  personified,  and 
are  sent  to  the  gods  to  make  the  requests  in  person, 
while  after  the  tournament  the  story  follows 
Areite's  soul  in  its  journey  to  heaven.  Chaucer's 
version  is  not  simply  a  translation,  but  rather  a 
wor king-over  so  complete  as  to-jpjoduce  an  almost 
original  story;  he  reduces  the  poem  to  two  thousand 


24  I XTRODUCTION 

two  hundred  and  fifty  lines,  makes  the  characters 
much  more  vhdd-aiul.  real,  and  the  story  itself 
more  probable,  and  therefore  more  modern  in  tone. 
Dryden  again  expands  the  poem  by  nearly  two 
hundred  lines.  His  version  is  a  much  closer  trans- 
lation of  Chaucer's  than  Chaucer's  is  of  ]><><•- 
caccio's;  but  Dryden  did  not  scruple  to  change 
the  lines_  decidedly  when  he  saw  fit.  Dryden 
follows  Chaucer,  however,  in  giving  the  story  an 
.Knglish  setting.  Inasmuch  as  Chaucer's  knowl- 
edge of  Greek  life  was  very  meager,  his  version  is 
full  of  anachronisms,  chief  among  which  is  the 
impossible  term  "Greek  chivalry."  But  as  there 
is  no  evidence  that  such  a  person  as  Theseus  ever 
lived  and  as  therefore  the  story  is  not  a  good  sub- 
ject for  historical  study,  the  fault  is  not  a  grievous 
one. 

DRYDEX'S    STYLE 

However  interesting  ft  might  be  for  the  pupil  to 
make  a  careful  comparison  of  the  styles  of  Chaucer 
and  Dryden,  it  would  scarcely  be  possible  for  him 
to  do  so  with  iio,thing  more  of  Chaucer's  poem  at 
hand  than  the  meager  passages  given  in  the  foot- 
notes. Those  passages  may  well  serve,  however, 
to  bring  out  by  contrast  the  more  important 
qualities  of  Dryden 's  style. 

The  basis  of  versification  is  the  same  in  Chaucer 
and  Dryden.  Both  poets  write  in  he^pjc_^ouj)lets , 
that  is,  in  iambic  pentameter,  the  lines  rhyming 


DRYDEN'S  STYLE  25 

in  pairs.  Such  verse  is  peculiarly  likely  ur  be 
monotonous,  and  both  poets  show  .skill -in  varying- 
therhytEm.  Dry  den  sometimes  substitutes  a 
trochee  or  a  spondee  for  an  iambus,  as  in  the  lines : 

Marching  |  he   chanced  |  to  cast  |  his    eye  |    aside.  | 
and  / 

Waked,  as  |  her  cus-  |  torn  was,  |  before  |  the  |  day.  | 

He  occasionally  adds  a  foot ;  this  iambic  hexameter 
line  is  called  an  Alexandrine : 

Two    youth-  |  ful     knights  |  they     found  |  beneath  |  a 

load  |  oppressed.  | 

He  also  occasionally  rhymes  three  successive  lines 
(V.  1.  31,  163,  188,  etc.). 

Dry  den's  rhyme,  which,  like  Chaucer's,  is 
often  imperfect,  is  better  than  it  seems  to  us,  be- 
cause the  seventeenth  century  pronunciation  made 
many  words  sound  alike  which  are  noT  alike  In 
modern  pronunciation.  For  instance,  joined  was 
pronounced  jined^vnd.  -the  couplet 

By  fortune  he  was  now  to  Venus  trined, 

And  with  stern  Mars  in  Capricorn  was  joined, 

was  a  perfect  one.  After  this  allowance  is  made, 
however,  the  fact  remains  that  Dry  den's  rhyming  is 
often  careless. 

Dryden's  verse  is  more  regular  than  Chau- 
cer's, and  at  the  same  time  less  musical.  It 
is  like  music  played  to  metronome  time,  while 
Chaucer's  is  like  music  controlled  by  the  player's 


INTRODUCTION 

of  rhythm.  For  this  monotony  of  eflect 
one  reason  is  that  a  large-  proportion  of  Dry  den's 
sentences  are  divided  into  clauses  a  line  Ion::; 
accordingly,  the  pause  in  reading  and  the  pause 
in  meter  coincide,  the  voice  falls  at  the  end  <>r' 
the  line,  and  the  time-beat  becomes  too  notice- 
able. For  an  illustration  of  the  relief  which 
comes  from  carrying  the  thought  of  one  line  over 
into  the  next,  compare  the  following  passages : 

Dry  den,  1.  545- 

It  hap-  |  penedonce  j  that  slum-  |  bering  as1  |  he  la}',  | 
He  dreamt  |  (his  dream  |  began  |  at  break  |  of  day),  | 
That  Her-  |  mes  o'er  |  his  head  |  in  air  |  appeared,  | 
And    with2  |  soft     words  |  his     droop-  |  ing'splr-  |  its 
cheered.  | 

Chaucer,  Knight's  Tale,  1.  525- 
At  The-  |  bes,  in1  |  his  con-  |  tree  as2  |  I  seyde,  | 
Upon  |^  night  |  m  sleep  |  as  he3  |  him  leyde,  | 
Him  thoughte  |  how  that4  |  the   win-  |  ged  god  |  Mercu- 

I  rie 
Biforn  |  him  stood,  |  and  bad  |  him  to:>  |  be  mvir-  [  ye. 

The  voice  naturally  joins  the  phrase  "Biforn 
him  stood"  with  the  preceding  line,  and  thus 
prevents  the  sing-song  effect  which  Dryden's  lines 
havet  The  same  extracts  illustrate  well  a  second 
reason  for  the  giieaiejr_^Km^tonv_  of  Dry  den  'si 
rhythm,  namely,  that  the  metrical  stress  in  Pry- 
den's  line  falls  more  often  upon  a  syllable  that. 


DRYDEN'S  STYLE  27 

must  be  accented  in  reading,  and  that  the  time- 
beat  within  the  line  can  therefore  be  disregarded 
less,  of  ten  than  in  Chaucer's  Hue.  The  syllables 
which  bear  a  metrical  accent  that  may  be  passed 
over  in  reading  are  numbered  in  the  two  passages, 
and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  there  are  only 
two  in  Dry  den's  lines,  against  five  in  Chaucer's* 

In  their  choice  of  words  Dry  den  and  Chaucer 
differ  widely.     Dry  den  believesjn  _t 


of  finejjhrases,  Chaucer  in  the  appmpriateneaa_nl 
simple  words.  AVhere  Chaucer  says  that  Palamon 
14  caste  his  eye  upon  Emelya,"  Dry  den  says  that 
he  "  descried  the  charms  of  Emily"  ;  where  Chaucer 
tells  how  Theseus  "let  Amie__out_ol__prison,'' 
Dry  den  tells  how  Theseus  "restored  Arcite  to 
liberty";  where  Chaucer  speaks  of  Theseus  's 
"giving  Arcite  gold,  "  Dryden  speaks  of  Theseus's 
"largely  entertaining  Arcite  with  sums  of  gold." 
Dryden  even  occasionally  sacrifices  clearness  or 
definiteness  to  an  alliteration  or  a  play  upon  words, 
as,  for  example,  in  the  phrase  "full  of  museful 
mopings,  '  '  and  the  line, 

Beholds  whatever  he  would  but  what  he  would  behold 

Dryden's  diction  often  lacks  the  best  artistic 
quality,  therefore,  because  it  lacks  naturalness. 
On  the  other  hand  it  has  interest  for  the  scholarly 
reader  because  many  words  which  we  now  use  only 
in  their  derived  meanings  are  used  by  Dryden  in 
their  literal  meaning. 


28  INTRODUCTION 

Both  Chaucer  and  Dryden  often  use  long,  loose 
sentences,  and  sometimes  fail  to  make  subordinate 
clauses  depend  grammatically  upon  principal 
clauses  (V.  1.  680  and  786).  Dryden  also  occasion 
ally  forgets  that  he  has  begun  a  dependent  clause, 
and  goes  on  with  it  as  though  it  were  principal  (V. 
11.  814-817).  A  marked  characteristic  of  Dryden's 
style  is  the  frequency  of  the  balanced  sentence. 
The  setting  of  phrase  against  phrase,  clause  against 
clause,  was  not  a  new  fashion  in  Dryden's  time; 
but  there  was  an  epigrammatic,  witty  flavor  in  this 
style  of  writing  which  appealed  to  Dryden,  and  he 
fell  into  the  habit  of  using  it  constantly,  thereby 
establishing  a  fashion  which  was  followed  ancU<-;ir- 
ried  to  the  extreme  by  Pope. 

The  first  quality  of  Dryden's  style  which  im- 
presses the  reader,  and  indeed  which  explains 
nearly  every  adverse  criticism  which  can  be  passed 
upon  it,  is  its  Ja^^of^simplicity.  Not  only  are 
his  words  pretentious  in  sound,  bat  he  sees  his 
thoughts  on  their  large  and  pompous  side.  There 
is  a  greater  difference  than  a  difference  in  word- 
ing between  Chaucer's  "ther  is  a  noyse  of 
peple"  and  Dryden's  "The  people  rend  the  sky 
with  vast  applause."  Chaucer  is  never  afraid  of 
a  simple  idea,  nor  of  a  homely  one,  if  it  is  clear 
and  pat.  He  says  that  Arcite  "wex  lene,  and  drye 
;  as  is  a  shaft,"  and  that  his  "disposicioun  is  turned 
al  up-so-doun";  Dryden  trims  the  thoughts  up,  as 
well  as  the  phrases,  saying  that  Arcite 


DRYDEN'S  STYLE  89 

looks  as  wan 
As  the  pale  spectre  of  a  murdered  man. 

This  lack  of  simplicity  runs  into  such  exaggera- 
tions as  are  expressed  in 

Heaven  is  not  but  where  Emily  abides 
And  where  she's  absent,  all  is  hell  besides, 

and  many  similar  passages.  Another  phase  of  the 
same  quality  shows  in  the  over-emphasized,  strained 
effect  of  such  lines  as 

He  sweJ  Is  with  wrath ;  he  makes  outrageous  moan ; 
He  frets,  he  fumes,  he  stares,  he  stamps  the  ground. 

These  lines  destroy  sympathy  because  they  try 
too  hard  to_e_xcite  it.  Dry  den's  artificiality,  which 
comes  out  in  his  treatment  both  of  nature  and  of* 
people,  is  only  another  proof  of  his  failure  to  take 
the  world  simply  and  naturally.  There  is  much 
more  feeling  for  Chaucer's  favorite  month  in  the 
three  words  "faire,  fresshe  May"  than  in  Dry  den's 
elaborate  reference  to  the  month  when  "Nature's 
ready  pencil  paints  the  flowers."  In  the  same  way 
there  is  an  eye  to  literary  effect  rather  than  to 
Arcite's  real  love  for  Emily  when  the  dying  knight 
is  made  to  say 

I  feel  my  end  approach  and  thus  embraced    • 
Am  pleased  to  die. 

Chaucer's  line 

And  softe  tak  me  ^n  your  armes  tweye 
For  love  of  God. 

has  the  real  pathos  which  Dry  den's  lacks. 


30  INTRODUCTION 

Dryden  is  much  less  specific  than  Chaucer. 
Chaucer  tells  the  color  of  Emily's  hair,  the 
age  of  King  Emetrius,  the  exact  hour  at  which 
Palamon  goes  to  the  temple  of  Venus.  Not  only 
does  Dryden  pass  over  such  realistic  details,  bi]t 
when  he  expresses  the  same  thought  that  Chaucer 
does,  he  gives  it  in  less  pointed  form.  He  is 
impersonal  and  general  where  Chaucer  is  personal 
and  definite.  In  Chaucer,  Arcite's  comfort  to  Pal- 
amon has  to  do  only  with  the  two  knights  them- 
selves : 

So  stood  the  heven  when  that  we  were  born ; 
We  moste  endure  it  -.  this  is  the  short  and  pley n. 

while    in    Dryden   the    sentiment  applies    to    the 

whole  world: 

• 

Whate'er  betides,  by  Destiny  'tis  done; 

And  better  bear  like  men  than  vainly  seek  to  shun. 

Moreover,  Dryden  >adds  many  generalizations 
which  do  not  occur  in  Chaucer,  such  as, 

The  proverb  holds,  that  to  be  wise  and  love 
Is  hardly  granted  to  the  gods  above, 

and, 

* 

Law  is  to  things  which  to  free  choice  relate ; 
Love  is  not  in  our  choice,  but  in  our  fate. 

Such  sweeping  statements  enlarge  the  back- 
ground of  the  poem,  but  at  the  expense  of  reality 
and  vividness. 

The  fact  that  Dryden 's  poem  is  nearly  twohnn- 


DRYDE^S   STYLE  31 

dred  lines  longer  than  Chaucer  's  is  proof  that  Dry- 
den  cannot  tell  a  story  as  concisely  as  Chaucer.  He 
has  the  power  aTcondensed  phrasing  —  witness  such 
expressions  as  "Creon  old  and  impious,"  ''the 
wof  ul  captive  kinsmen,  "  the  Creator's  "all  -seeing 
and  all-making  mind,"  —  but  not  of  compact 
narrative.  In  the  first  place  he  wrote  hurriedly, 
with  little  revision,  and  in  the  second  place  he  was 
not  content  to  let  words  suggest  thoughts,  but  felt 
bound  to  state  explicitly  each  phase  of  his  idea. 
For  example,  in  the  extract  given  for  scanning  (1. 
545),  Chaucer,  whose  first  line  is  merely  intro- 
ductory, tells  the  story  of  Arcite  's  dream  in  three 
lines  where  Dry  den  takes  four. 

In  spite  of  the  many  points  in  which  Dryden's 
style  falls  short  of  the  ideal,  it  has  a  stateliness 
which  commends  it.  IIig_Janguage  is  stiff  and 
artificial  ;  yet  it  was  the  accepted  literary  language 
of  his  time,  and  reminds  us,  not  ungratefully,  of 
that  day  of  powdered  wigs,  velvet  coats,  artful 
conversations,  and  courtly  manners.  Chaucer  'B 
writinj2j^o^ain^  unconven- 

tional, full  of  wit  and  humor  ;  Dryden's  is  purposely 
learned,  serious  almost  to  heaviness,  lacking^  in 
humor,  and  only  laboriously  witty.  Chaucer,  is 
spmitaneous^jis  though  he  wrote  for 


writing;  Dryden  is  premeditated,  as  though  he 
wrote  for  fame  and  money.  Nevertheless,  Dryden. 
is  a  literary  workman  "who  needeth  not  to  be 
ashamed,"  and  is  not  altogether  unworthy  of 


32  INTRODUCTION 

Doctor    Johnson's    praise    that    "Dryden     found 
English  poetry  brick  and  left  it  marble." 

DRYDEX'S    ESTIMATE    OF    CHAUCER 

Dry  den  called  Chaucer  the  "Father  of  English 
Poetry, "  and  spoke  of  him  as  a  "perpetual  fountain 
of  good  sense."  The  following  extract  from  the 
introduction  to  the  Fables  is  interesting  because  it 
not  only  gives  Dryden's  opinion  of  Chaucer,  but 
also  his  reason  for  rewriting  Chaucers'  poems: 

Chaucer,  I  confess,  is  a  rough  diamond,  and  must  first 
be  polished,  ere  he  shines.     I  deny  not  likewise,  that, 
I   living  in  our  early  days  of  poetry,  he  writes  not  always 
I  of  a  piece ;   but  sometimes  mingles  trivial  things  with 
\  those  of  greater  moment.     Sometimes,  also,  though  not 
often,  he  runs  riot,  like  Ovid,  and  knows  not  when  he 
has  said  enough.     But  there  are  more  great  wits  Besides 
Chaucer,  whose  fault  is  their  excess  of  conceits, and  those 
ill  sorted.     An  author  is  not  to  write  all  he  can,  but  only 
all  he  ought.      Having  observed  this  redundancy  in 
Chaucer  (as  it  is  an  easy  matter  for  a  man  of  ordinary 
parts  to  find  fault  in  one  of  greater),  I  have  not  tied 
myself  to  literal  translation;  but  have  often  omitted 
;  what  I  judged  unnecessary,  or  not  of  dignity  enough  to 
\  appear  in  the  company  of  better   thoughts.     I  have 
presumed  further,  in  some  places,  and  added  somewhat 
of  my  own  where  I  thought  my  author  was  deficient, 
and  had  not  given  his  thoughts  their  true  lustre,  for 
want  of  words  in  the  beginning  of  our  language.     And 
\  to  this  I  was  the  more  emboldened,  because  (if  I  may 
be  permitted  to  say  it  myself)  I  found  I  had  a  soul  con- 
genial to  his,  and  that  I  had  been  conversant  in  the 
same  studies. 


SUGGESTIONS   TO  TEACHERS 

This  edition  of  Palamon  and  Arcite  differs  from 
previous  ones  in  giving  more  of  the  Chaucer  text, 
and  in  emphasizing  the  fact  that  the  poem  is  more  . 
Chaucer's  than  Dryden's.  The  teacher  is  urged 
to  belittle  the  difficulty  of  reading  Chaucer,  to  take 
it  for  granted  that  the  pupil  can  read  the  footnotes 
readily,  and  to  add  to  the  interest  of  the  poem  by 
making  as  full  a  comparative  study  as  possible 
of  the  two  poems.  If  the  teacher  is  not  familiar 
with  the  pronunciation  and  the  grammar  of 
( !haucer,  he  will  find  adequate  directions  for  the 
pronunciation  in  Volume  I.  of  the  Riverside  Edition 
of  Chaucer's  works,  for  the  grammar  in  Morris 
and  Skeat's  edition  of  the  Prologue  and  Knights 
T/i/f^  etc.  (Clarendon  Press  Series.)  The  pleasure 
of  his  pupils  in  hearing  Chaucer  well  read  will 
amply  repay  him  for  taking  some  trouble  in  the 
matter.  But  if  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  acquire 
the  pronunciation,  it  would  be  better  to  mispro- 
nounce Chaucer's  lines  than  to  leave  them  unread. 

In  reading  the  story  two  points  should  be  con- 
stantly kept  in  mind,  namely,  a  thorough  com- 
prehension of  the  story  and  a  definite  study  of  the 
style.  If  the  pupil  comprehends  the  story  perfectly 

33 


34  INTRODUCTION 

he  will  be  able  at  any  point  to  give  in  his  own 
words  the  argument,  the  description,  or  the  senti- 
ments, as  well  as  the  events.  In  studying  the  style 
he  will  need  somewhat  heroic  treatment  if  he  is  to 
be  saved  from  glittering  generalities.  It  is  hoped 
that  the  treatment  given  above  of  the  style  of 
Dryden  will  be  a  help  toward  definiteness. 

The  study  of  words  and  sentences  may  well  be 
made  the  subject  of  written  exercises,  varied  from 
day  to  day — one  day  a  list  of  words  used  in  their 
literal  meanings,  another  day  a  Ijst  of  effective 
descriptive  words  and  phrases,  another  several  loose 
sentences  rewritten  in  more  closely  welded  form,  or 
\j  with  Dryden's  imperfect  sequence  of  tense  cor- 
rected, and  still  another,  a  passage  rewritten  in 
more  simple  wording  than  Dryden's.  These  exer- 
cises may  be  used  to  give  point  to  the  pupil's  read- 
ing without  taking  much  of  his  time  or  of  the 
teacher's,  and  may  give  a  good  amount  of  technical 
drill.  A  moment's  comment  on  such  a  set  of 
exercises  at  the  beginning  of  a"  recitation  will  often 
impress  a  class  more  than  long  discussions  when  the 
pupils  have  done  no  writing.  The  same  method 
may  be  made  to  bring  out  the  further  characteristics 
of  Dryden's  style.  One  passage  may  be  rewritten 
—in  prose,  of  course — to  tell  the  story  more  com- 
pactly, another  to  omit  Dryden's  general  or 
cynical  comments,  his  lapses  in  unity,  etc.  Such 
paraphrasing  with  a  definite  purpose  is  invaluable, 
and  will  lead  the  pupil  to  make  for  himself  dis- 


SUGGESTIONS  TO   TEACHERS  35 

cover  ies  about  his  author's  characteristics,  whereas 
paraphrasing  with  no  other  purpose  than  retelling 
the  story  is  deadening. 

The  study  of  figures  is  not  so  important  as  that 
of  words  and  sentences,  but  some  treatment  of 
them  is  advisable.  The  elementary  grouping  of 
figures  into  those  that  are  founded  on  resemblance 
and  those  that  are  not,  will  clarify  the  subject  in 
the  pupil's  mind.  Personification  is  plentiful  in 
the  poem,  and  need  not  be  dwelt  upon ;  the  similes 
speak  for  themselves ;  in  the  case  of  metaphors  it 
is  well  to  insist  that  the  pupil  fill  out  the  compari- 
son, even  to  the  extent  of  making  a  complete 
simile.  Metonymy,  as  the  typical  figure  of  the 
class  not  founded  on  resemblance, .  should  be 
emphasized  whenever  the  instance  occurs,  and 
carefully  distinguished  from  metaphor. 

The  versification  need  not  be  dwelt  on  long. 
The  pupil  should  however  be  able  to  scan  the  lines, 
and  should  learn  to  notice  for  himself  poor  rhymes, 
triple  rhymes,  the  Alexandrine  verses,  and  the 
mutilated  rhythm  of  such  lines  as  "The  inevitable 
charms  of  Emily"  (1.  232). 

For  any  broad  literary  criticism  the  high  school 
pupil  is  not  ready.  By  attempting  it  he  only 
befuddles  himself,  and  takes  away  the  pleasure  of 
trained  discrimination  which  awaits  him  in  his  col- 
lege course  if  he  confines  himself  to  the  a  b  c's 
of  criticism  before  entering.  The  teacher,  how- 
ever, may  read  as  broadly  as  he  will  and  is  the  proper 


36  INTRODUCTION 

medium  for  whatever 'light  is  to  be  shed  on  the 
reading  by  the  great  critics. 

The  best  aid  to  the  pupil's  imagination,  as  well 
as  to  his  sense  of  style,  is  constant  writing.  The 
subjects  of  the  themes  written  outside  of  class  N> 
should  come  from  the  book  in  hand,  but  should  be 
narrowly  limited.  The  pupil  will  never  know 
whether  he  has  a  definite  idea  in  his  own  mind  of 
the  temple  of  Mars  until  he  writes  out  the  descrip- 
tion of  it  from  memory,  nor  will  he  ever  be  so  well 
prepared  to  decide  whether  Dry  den's  description  is 
vivid  or  not  until  he  has  made  the  attempt  to 
describe  the  same  thing  himself.  A  half  dozen 
short  themes,  for  instance,  one  to  describe  Emily, 
one  to  tell  what  the  pupil  imagines  Palamon  and 
Arcite  had  done  before  the  expedition  against 
Thebes,  one  to  tell  what  Theseus  thought  when  he 
discovered  them  fighting,  one  on  the  lists — includ- 
ing a  map  of  the  place — one  on  one  of  the  temples, 
and  another  on  the  funeral  of  Arcite,  would  be 
infinitely  better  than  a  long  theme  on  a  general 
subject. 

The  notes  are  not  intended  to  supersede  the 
dictionary.  The  meaning  of  even  unusual  words  is 
not  given  if  the  words  are  defined  in  the  standard 
dictionaries.  A  glossary  of  proper  names  is  added 
for  the  benefit  of  pupils  who  have  not  a  classical 
dictionary  at  hand,  rather  than  for  those  who  have. 
The  footnotes  are  given  in  place  of  notes  in  pas- 
sages where  Chaucer's  text  explains  Dryden's.  In 


SUGGESTIONS   TO   TEACHERS 

three  instances  long  extracts  from  Chaucer 's  text 
have  been  given,  in  order  that  the  pupil  may  make 
for  himself  a  comparative  study  of  the  two  styles. 
The  teacher  will  find  it  an  invaluable  exercise  for 
the  pupil  to  compare  the  two  texts,  line  for  line, 
and  to  draw  his  own  conclusions  from  his  observa- 
tions as  definitely  as  though  he  were  performing  an 
experiment  in  chemistry.  It  is  only  from  such* 
clearly-defined  training  that  a  quickened  literary 
sense  will  come  to  the  mind  of  the  average  high 
school  student.  Meantime  the  teacher  must  foster 
the  pupil's  sense  of  beauty  by  keeping  the  main 
points  of  the  story  in  mind,  and  by  calling  atten- 
tion to  well-chosen  words,  to  well-turned  phrases, 
and  to  well-conceived  pictures. 


38  INTRODUCTION 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 

CHAUCER 

Chaucer,  English  Men  of  Letters  Series,  Ward. 
Studies  in  Chaucer,  Lounsbury.     Vol.  Ill,  Chap.  II. 
History  of  English  Literature,  Taine.     Vol.  I. 
My  Study  Windows,  Lowell. 

TEXT  OF  CHAUCER, — An  excellent  and  inexpensive 
edition  of  Chaucer  is  Morris  and  Skeat's  Prologue  and 
Knightes  Tale  in  the  Clarendon  Press  Series. 

DRYDEN 

Lives  of  the  Poets,    Johnson,    edited  by   Matthew 
Arnold.     Vol.  II. 

Dryden,  Scott's  Edition.     Vol.  I. 

English  Poets,  Chalmers.     Vol.  VIII. 

Dryden,  English  Men  of  Letters  Series,  Saintsbury 

History  of  English  Literature,  Taine.     Vol.  III. 

Among  My  Books,  Lowell. 

Home  Pictures  of  English  Poets,  -Kate  Sanborn. 

Essay  on  Dryden,  Macaulay. 

The  Age  of  Dryden,  Richard  Garnett. 

Literary  Essays,  III,  Lowell. 


TO 
HEK  GRACE  THE  DUCHESS  0*F  OKMOND, 

WITH  THE  FOLLOWING  POEM  OF 

PALAMON  AND  ARCITE,  FROM  CHAUCER. 

MADAM, 

The  bard  who  first  adorned  our  native  tongue, 

Tuned  to  his  British  lyre  this  ancient  song ; 

Which  Homer  might  without  a  blush  rehearse, 

And  leaves  a  doubtful  palm  in  Virgil's  verse: 
5  He  matched  their  beauties,  where  they  most  excel; 

Of  love  sung  better,  and  of  arms  as  well. 
Vouchsafe,  illustrious  Ormond,  to  behold 

What  power  the  charms  of  beauty  had  of  old; 

Kor  wonder  if  such  deeds  of  arms  were  done, 
10  Inspired  by  two  fair  eyes  that  sparkled  like  your 

own. 
If  Chaucer  by  the  best  idea  wrought, 

And  poets  can  divine  each  other's  thought, 

The  fairest  nymph  before  his  eyes  he  set ; 

And  then  the  fairest  was  Plantagenet, 
is  Who  three  contending  princes  made  her  prize, 

And  ruled  the  rival  nations  with  her  eyes ; 

Who  left  immortal  trophies  of  her  fame, 

And  to  the  noblest  order  gave  the  name. 

39 


OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY 


40  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Like  her,  of  equal  kindred  to  the  throne, 
You  keep  her  conquests,  and  extend  your  own:        -j 
As  when  the  stars,  in  their  ethereal  race, 
At  length  have  rolled  around  the  liquid  space, 
At  certain  periods  they  resume  their  place, 
From    the   same    point   of   heaven    their    course 

advance, 

And  move  in  measures  of  their  former  dance ;  o«, 

Thus,  after  length  of  ages,  she  returns, 
Restored  in  you,  and  the  same  place  adorns ; 
Or  you  perform  her  office  in  the  sphere, 
Born  of  her  blood,  and  make  a  new  Platonic  year. 

0  true  Plantagenet,  0  race  divine,  ,:., 

(For  beauty  still  is  fatal  to  the  line,) 
Had  Chaucer  lived  that  angel-face  to  view, 
Sure  he  had  drawn  his  Emily  from  you; 
Or  had  you  lived  to  judge  the  doubtful  right, 
Your  noble  Palamon  had  been  the  knight ;  35 

And  conquering  Theseus  from  his  side  had  sent 
Your  generous  lord,  to  guide  the  Theban  govern- 
ment. 

Time  shall  accomplish  that;  and  I  shall  see 
A  Palamon  in  him,  in  you  an  Emily. 

Already  have  the  Fates  your  path  prepared,          40 
And  sure  presage  your  future  sway  declared : 
When  westward,  like  the  sun,  you  took  your  way, 
And  from  benighted  Britain  bore  the  day, 
Blue  Triton  gave  the  signal  from  the  shore, 
The  ready  Nereids  heard,  and  swam  before  4b 

To  smooth  the  seas ;  a  soft  Etesian  gale 


DEDICATION  41 

But  just  inspired,  and  gently  swelled  the  sail ; 
Fortunus  took  his  turn,  whose  ample  hand 
Heaved  up  the  lightened  keel  and  sunk  the  sand, 

r »  And  steered  the  sacred  vessel  safe  to  land. 
The  land,  if  not  restrained,  had  met  your  way, 
Projected  out  a  neck,  and  jutted  to  the  sea. 
Hibernia,  prostrate  at  your  feet,  adored 
In  you  the  pledge  of  her  expected  lord, 

55  Due  to  her  isle ;  a  venerable  name ; 

His  father  and  his  grandsire  known  to  fame ; 
Awed  by  that  house,. accustomed  to  command, 

.     The  sturdy  kerns  in  due  subjection  stand, 
Xor  hear  the  reins  in  any  foreign  hand. 

eo  At  your  approach,  they  crowded  to  the  port; 
And  scarcely  landed,  you  create  a  court : 
As  Ormond's  harbinger,  to  you  they  run, 
For  Venus  is  the  promise  of  the  Sun. 

The  waste  of  civil  wars,  their  towns  destroyed, 

65  Pales  unhonoured,  Ceres  unemployed, 
Were  all  forgot ;  and  one  triumphant  day 
Wiped  all  the  tears  of  three  campaigns  away. 
Blood,  rapines,  massacres,  were  cheaply  bought, 
So  mighty  recompense  your  beauty  brought. 

:o  As  when  the  dove  returning  bore  the  mark 
Of  earth  restored  to  the  long -labouring  ark, 
The  relics  of  mankind,  secure  of  rest, 
Oped  every  window  to  receive  the  guest, 
And  the  fair  bearer  of  the  message  blessed ; 

75  So,  when  you  name,  with  loud  repeated  cries, 
The  nation  took  an  omen  from  your  eyes, 


±1  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

And  God  advanced  his  rainbow  in  the  skies, 
To  sign  inviolable  peace  restored ; 
The  saints,  with  solemn  shouts,  proclaimed  tbe  new 
accord. 

When  at  your  second  coming  yon  appear  so 

(For  I  foretell  that  millenary  year) 
The  sharpened  share  shall  vex  the  soil  no  more, 
But  earth  unbidden  shall  produce  her  store; 
The  land  shall  laugh,  the  circling  ocean  smile, 
And  Heaven's  indulgence  bless  the  holy  isle.  85 

Heaven  from  all  ages  has  reserved  for  you 
That  happy  clime,  which  venom  never  knew; 
Or  if  it  had  been  there,  your  eyes  alone 
Have  power  to  chase  all  poison,  but  their  own. 

Now  in  this  interval,  which  Fate  has  cast  90 

Betwixt  your  future  glories  and  your  past, 
This  pause  of  power,  'tis  Ireland's  hour  to  mourn ; 
While  England  celebrates  your  safe  return, 
By  which  you  seem  the  seasons  to  command, 
And  bring  our  summers   back  to  their  forsaken   es 
land. 

The  vanquished  isle  our  leisure  must  attend, 
Till  the  fair  blessing  we  vouchsafe  to  send; 
Nor  can  we  spare  you  long,  though  often  we  may 

lend. 

The  dove  was  twice  employed  abroad,  before 
The  world  was  dried  and  she  returned  no  more.        JOG 

Nor  dare  we  trust  so  soft  a  messenger, 
New  from  her  sickness,  to  that  northern  air; 
Kest  here  awhile  your  lustre  to  restore, 


DEDICATION  43 

That  they  may  see  you  as  yon  shone  before ; 
105  For  yet,  the  eclipse  not  wholly  past,  you  wade 

Through  some  remains  and  dimness  of  a  shade. 
A  subject  in  his  prince  may  claim  a  right, 

Nor  suffer  him  with  strength  impaired  to  fight ; 

Till  force  returns,  his  ardour  we  restrain, 
no  And  curb  his  warlike  wish  to  cross  the  main. 
Now  past  the  danger,  let  the  learned  begin 

The  inquiry,  where  disease  could  enter  in ; 

How  those  malignant  atoms  forced  their  way, 

What  in  the  faultless  frame  they  found  to  make 

their  prey, 
us  Where  every  element  was  weighed  so  well, 

That  Heaven  alone,  who  mixed  the  mass,  could  tell 

Which  of  the  four  ingredients  could  rebel ; 

And  where,  imprisoned  in  so  sweet  a  cage, 

A  soul  might  well  bo  pleased  to  pass  an  age. 
120      And  yet  the  fine  materials  made  it  weak ; 

Porcelain,  by  being  pure,  is  apt  to  break. 

Even  to  your  breast  the  sickness  durst  aspire; 

And,  forced  from  that  fair  temple  to  retire, 

Profanely  set  the  holy  place  on  fire. 
125  In  vain  your  lord,  like  young  Vespasian,  mourned, 

When  the  fierce  flames  the  sanctuary  burned; 

And  I  prepared  to  pay  in  verses  rude 

A  most  detested  act  of  gratitude: 

Even  this  had  been  your  Elegy,  which  now 
130  Is  offered  for  your  health,  the  table  of  my  vow. 
Your  angel  sure  our  Morley's  mind  inspired, 

To  find  the  remedy  your  ill  required. 


44  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

As  once  the  Macedon,  by  Jove's  decree, 
Was  taught  to  dream  a  herb  for  Ptolemy : 
<  >r  Heaven,  which  had  such  over-cost  bestowed        ir» 
As  scarce  it  could  afford  to  flesh  and  blood, 
So  liked  the  frame,  he  would  not  work  anew, 
To  save  the  charges  of  another  you ; 
Or  by  his  middle  science  did  he  steer, 
And  saw  some  great  contingent  good  appear,  HC 

Well  worth  a  miracle  to  keep  you  here ; 
And  for  that  end,  preserved  the  precious  mould, 
Which  all  the  future  Ormonds  was  to  hold ; 
And  meditated,  in  his  better  mind, 
An  heir  from  you,  who  may  redeem  the  failing  M:> 
kind. 

Blessed  be  the  power  which  has  at  once  restored 
The  hopes  of  lost  succession  to  your  lord; 
Joy  to  the  first  and  last  of  each  degree, 
Virtue  to  courts,  and,  what  I  longed  to  see, 
To  you  the  Graces,  and  the  Muse  to  me.  150 

0  daughter  of  the  Rose !  whose  cheeks  unite 
The  differing  titles  of  the  Eed  and  White; 
Wrho  Heaven's  alternate  beauty  well  display, 
The  blush  of  morning,  and  the  milky  way ; 
Whose  face  is  Paradise,  but  fenced  from  sin ;  15;s 

For  God  in  either  eye  has  placed  a  cherubin. 

All  is  your  lord's  alone;  even  absent,  he 
Employs  the  care  of  chaste  Penelope. 
For  him  you  waste  in  tears  your  widowed  hours, 
For  him  your  curious  needle  paints  the  flowers;        m 
Huch  works  of  old  imperial  dames  were  taught, 


DEDICATION  45 

Such  for  Ascanins,  fair  Elisa  wrought. 

The  soft  recesses  of  your  hours  improve 
The  three  fair  pledges  of  your  happy  love; 
tea   All  other  parts  of  pious  duty  done, 

You  owe  your  Ormond  nothing  but  a  son, 
To  fill  in  future  times  his  father's  place, 
And  wear  the  garter  of  his  mother's  race. 


PALAMON  AND  ABCITE 

OR,  THE  KNIGHT'S  TALE 
BOOK    I 

In  days  of  old  there  lived,  of  mighty  fame, 

A  valiant  Prince,  and  Theseus  was  his  name ; 

A  chief,  who  more  in  feats  of  arms  excelled, 

The  rising  nor  the  setting  sun  beheld. 
5  Of  Athens  he  was  lord ;  much  land  lie  won, 

And  added  foreign  countries  to  his  crown. 

In  Scythia  with  the  warrior  Queen  he  strove, 

Whom  first  by  force  he  conquered,  then  by  love; 

He  brought  in  triumph  back  the  beauteous  dame, 
10  With  whom  her  sister,  fair  Emilia,  came. 

AVith  honour  to  his  home  let  Theseus  ride, 

With  Love  to  friend,  and  Fortune  for  his  guide, 

And  his  victorious  army  at  his  side. 

I  pass  their  warlike  pomp,  their  proud  array, 
15  Their  shouts,  their  songs,  their  welcome  on  the 

way ; 
.But,  were  it  not  too  long,  I  would  recite 

The  feats  of  Amazons,  the  fatal  fight 

5. — Compare  Chaucer's  opening  lines: 

Whylom,  as  olde  stories  tellen  us, 

Ther  was  a  duk  that  highte  Theseus ; 

Of  Athenes  he  was  lord  and  governour, 

And  in  his  tynie  swich  a  conquerour 

That  gretter  was  ther  noon  under  the  sonne. 

Ful  many  a  riclie  contree  liadde  he  wonne, 


4S  PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE 

Betwixt  the  hardy  Queen  and  hero  Knight ; 
The  town  besieged,  and  how  much  blood  it  cost 
The  female  army,  and  the  Athenian  host;  20 

The  spousals  of  Hippolyta  the  Queen; 
What  tilts  and  turneys  at  the  feast  were  seen ; 
The  storm  at  their  return,  the  ladies'  fear: 
But  these,  and  other  things,  I  must  forbear. 
The  field  is  spacious  I  design  to  sow,  25 

With  oxen  far  unfit  to  draw  the  plough: 
The  remnant  of  my  tale  is  of  a  length 
To  tire  your  patience,  and  to  waste  my  strength; 
And  trivial  accidents  shall  be  for  born, 
That  others  may  have  time  to  take  their  turn,          so 
As  was  at  first  enjoined  us  by  mine  host, 
That  he,  whose  tale  is  best  and  pleases  most, 
Should  win  his  supper  at  our  common  cost. 
And  therefore  where  I  left,  I  will  pursue 
This  ancient  story,  whether  false  or  true,  35 

In  hope  it  may  be  mended  with  a  new. 
The  Prince  I  mentioned,  full  of  high  renown, 
In  this  array  drew  near  the  Athenian  town ; 
When,  in  his  pomp  and  utmost  of  his  pride 
Marching,  he  chanced  to  cast  his  eye  aside,  40 

And  saw  a  quire  of  mourning  dames,  who  lay 

33  (33) ^ — And  lat  see  now  who  shal  the  soper  winne, 

41  (39). — Wher  that  ther  kneled  in  the  hye  weye 

A  compaignye  of  ladies,  tweye  and  tweye, 
Ech  after  other,  clad  in  clothes  blake, 


1  The  first  numbers  are  those  of  Dryden's  lines,  the  second  those 
of  Chaucer's  (Clarendon  Press  edition).  » 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  49 

By  two  and  two  across  the  common  way : 
At  his  approach  they  raised  a  rueful  cry, 
And  beat  their  breasts,  and  held  their  hands  on  high, 

4s  Creeping  and  crying,  till  they  seized  at  last 
His  courser's  bridle  and  his  feet  embraced. 

"Tell  me,"  said  Theseus,   "what  and  whence 

you  are, 

And  why  this  funeral  pageant  you  prepare? 
Is  this  the  welcome  of  my  worthy  deeds, 

so  To  meet  my  triumph  in  ill-omened  weeds? 
Or  envy  you  my  praise,  and  would  destroy 
With  grief  my  pleasures,  and  pollute  my  joy? 
Or  are  you  injured,  and  demand  relief? 
Name  your  request,  and  I  will  ease  your  grief." 

55      The  most  in  years  of  all  the  mourning  train 
Began;  but  s wounded  first  away  for  pain; 
Then  scarce  recovered  spoke:  "Nor  envy  we 
Thy  great  renown,  nor  grudge  thy  victory : 
'Tis  thine,  0  King,  the  afflicted  to  redress, 

GO  And  fame  has  filled  the  world  with  thy  success : 
We  wretched  women  sue  for  that  alone, 
Which  of  thy  goodness  is  refused  to  none ; 
Let  fall  some  drops  of  pity  on  our  grief, 
If  what  we  beg  be  just,  and  we  deserve  relief ; 

65  For  none  of  us,  who  now  thy  grace  implore, 
But  held  the  rank  of  sovereign  queen  before ; 
Till  thanks  to  giddy  Chance,  which  never  bears 
That  mortal  bliss  should  last  for  length  of  years, 

55  (54). — The  eldest  lady  of  hem  alle  spak. 

67  (67) .  —Thanked  be  Fortune,  and  hir  false  wheel. 


\ 


50  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

She  cast  us  headlong  from  our  high  estate, 

And  here  iii  hope  of  thy  return  we  wait,  70 

And  long  have  waited  in  the  temple  nigh, 

Built  to  the  gracious  goddess  Clemency, 

But  reverence  thouthe  power  whose  name  it  bears, 

I\elieve  the  oppressed,  and  wipe  the  widow's  tears. 

I,  wretched  I,  have  other  fortune  seen,  7- 

The  wife  of  Capaneus,  and  once  a  Queen: 

At  Thebes  he  fell ;  cursed  be  the  fatal  day ! 

And  all  the  rest  thou  seest  in  this  array 

To  make  their  moan,  their  lords  in  battle  lost 

Before  that  town  besieged  by  our  confederate  host.  ^ 

But  Creon,  old  and  impious,  who  commands 

The  Theban  city,  and  usurps  the  lands, 

Denies  the  rites  of  funeral  fires  to  those 

Whose  breathless  bodies  yet  he  calls  his  foes.  L 

Unburned,  unburied,  on  a  heap  they  lie;  ^ 

.Such  is  their  fate,  and  such  his  tyranny ; 

INTo  friend  has  leave  to  bear  away  the  dead, 

But  with  their  lifeless  limbs  his  hounds  are  fed." 

At  this  she  shrieked  aloud;  the  mournful  train 

Echoed  her  grief,  and,  grovelling  on  the  plain,         w 

81  (82).— Fulfild  of  ire  and  of  iniquitee. 
89  (91).— 

They  fillen  gruf,1  and  cry  den  pitously, 
.  'Have  on  us  wrecched  wominen  som  mercy, 
And  lat  our  sorwe  sinken  in  thyn  herte.' 
Notice  that  it  is  Dryden's  straining  after  dramatic 
effect  here  that  blinds  him  to  the  real  feeling  of  the 
scene. 


'Pell  on  their  faces. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  51 

•With  groans,  and  hands  upheld,  to  move  his  mind, 
Besought  his  pity  to  their  helpless  kind, 
i      The  Prince  was  touched,  his  tears  began  to  flow, 
And  as  his  tender  heart  would  break  in  two, 

9?   He  sighed;  and  could  not  but  their  fate  deplore, 
So  wretched  now,  so  fortunate  before. 
Then  lightly  from  his  lofty  steed  he  flew, 
And  raising  one  by  one  the  suppliant  crew, 
To  comfort  each,  full  solemnly  he  swore, 

100  That  by  the  faith  which  knights  to  knighthood  bore, 
And  whate'er  else  to  chivalry  belongs, 
He  would  not  cease,  till  he  revenged  their  wrongs : 
That  Greece  should  see  performed  what  he  declared, 
And  cruel  Creon  find  his  just  reward. 

loir  He  said  no  more,  but  shunning  all  delay, 
Iiode  on,  nor  entered  Athens  on  his  way: 
l>ut  left  his  sister  and  his  queen  behind, 
And  waved  his  royal  banner  in  the  wind, 
"Where  in  an  argent  field  the  God  of  War 

no  Was  drawn  triumphant  on  his  iron  car ; 

lied  was  his  sword,  and  shield,  and  whole  attire, 
And  all  the  godhead  seemed  to  glow  with  fire; 
Even  the  ground  glittered  where  the  standard  flew, 
And  the  green  grass  was  dyed  to  sanguine  hue. 

n.v  High  on  his  pointed  lance  his  pennon  bore 
His  Cretan  fight,  the  conquered  Minotaur: 
The  soldiers  shout  around  with  generous  rage, 
A  iid  in  that  victory  their  own  presage. 

100  ( 101 ) .  — And  swoor  his  oth,  as  he  was  trewe  knight, 
105  (116). — And  forth  he  rit :  ther  is  namore  to  telle. 


52  PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE 

He  praised  their  ardour,  inly  pleased  to  see 
His  host,  the  flower  of  Grecian  chivalry.  ]r, 

All  day  he  marched,  and  all  the  ensuing  night, 
And  saw  the  city  with  returning  light. 
The  process  of  the  war  I  need  not  tell, 
How  Theseus  conquered,  and  how  Creon  fell ; 
Or  after,  how  by  storm  the  walls  were  won,  126 

Or  how  the  victor  sacked  and  burned  the  town ; 
How  to  the  ladies  he  restored  again 
The  bodies  of  their  lords  in  battle  slain ; 
And  with  what  ancient  rites  they  were  interred ; 
All  these  to  fitter  times  shall  be  deferred :  130 

ill  spare  the  widows'  tears,  their  woful  cries, 
\\And  howling  at  their  husbands'  obsequies; 
:yllow  Theseus  at  these  funerals  did  assist, 
|  And  with  what  gifts  the  mourning  dames  dismissed. 

Thus  when  the  victor  chief  had  Creon  slain,          135 
And  conquered  Thebes,  he  pitched  upon  the  plain 
His  mighty  camp,  and  when  the  day  returned, 
The  country  wasted  and  the  hamlets  burned, 
And  left  the  pillagers,  to  rapine  bred, 
Without  control  to  strip  and  spoil  the  dead.  HO 

There,  in  a  heap  of  slain,  among  the  rest 
Two  youthful  knights  they  found  beneath  a  loml 

oppressed 

Of  slaughtered  foes,  whom  first  to  death  they  sent, 
The  trophies  of  their  strength,  a  bloody  monument. 

138  (146).— -And  dide  with  al  the  contree  as  him  leste.1 


1  Listed,  pleased. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  53 

HO  Both  fair,  and  both  of  royal  blood  they  seemed, 
Whom  kinsmen  to  the  crown  the  heralds  deemed; 
That  day  in  equal  arms  they  fought  for  fame; 
Their  swords,  their  shields,  their  surcoats  were  the 

same. 

Close  by  each  other  laid  they  pressed  the  ground, 
ifio  Their  manly  bosoms  pierced  with  many  a  grisly 

wound ; 

Nor  well  alive  nor  wholly  dead  they  were, 
But  some  faint  signs  of  feeble  life  appear ; 
The  wandering  breath  was  on  the  wing  to  part, 
Weak    was    the    pulse,    and    hardly   heaved    the 

heart. 

155  These  two  were  sisters'  sons;  and  Arcite  one 
Much  famed  in  fields,  with  valiant  Palamon. 
From  these  their  costly  arms  the  spoilers  rent, 
And  softly  both  conveyed  to  Theseus'  tent; 
Whom,   known  of   Creon's  line,  and  cured  with 

care, 

leo  He  to  his  city  sent  as  prisoners  of  the  Avar ; 
Hopeless  of  ransom,  and  condemned  to  lie 
In  durance,  doomed  a  lingering  death  to  die. 
This    done,    he    marched    away    with    warlike 

sound, 

And  to  his  Athens  turned  with  laurels  crowned, 
165  Where  happy  long  he  lived,  much  loved,  and  more 

renowned. 
But  in  a  tower,  and  never  to  be  loosed, 

155  (155). — Of  whiche  two  Arcita  hight  that  oon, 
And  that  other  knight-  hight  Palamon, 


A>54  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

The  woful  captive  kinsmen  are  enclosed. 

Thus  year  by  year  .they  pass,  and  day  by  day, 
Till  once,  ('twas  on  the  morn  of  cheerful  May) 
The  young  Emilia,  fairer  to  be  seen  rro 

Than  the  fair  lily  on  the  flowery  green, 
More  fresh  than  May  herself  in  blossoms  new, 
(For  with  the  rosy  colour  strove  her  hue,) 
AVaked,  as  her  custom  was,  before  the  day, 
To  do  the  observance  due  to  sprightly  May;  ITS 

168-200  (175-197).— Compare  Dryden's  thirty -three 
lines  with  Chaucer's  twenty-three,  noting  what  Dryden 
adds  and  what  he  leaves  out. 

This  passetli  yeer  by  yeer,  and  day  by  day, 
Til  it  fil  ones,  in  a  morwe  of  May, 
That  Emelye,  that  fairer  was  to  sene 
Than  is  the  lilie  upon  his  stalke  grene, 
And  f  ressher  than  the  May  with  floures  lie  we — 
For  with  the  rose  colour  strof  hir  hewe, 
I  noot1  which  was  the  fairer  of  hem  two — 
Er  it  were  day,  as  was  hir  wone2  to  do, 
She  was  arisen,  and  al  redy  dight  ;3 
For  May  wol  have  no  slogardye  anight. 
The  sesoun  priketh  every  geiitil  herte, 
And  maketh  him  out  of  his  sleep  to  sterte, 
And  seith,  'Arys,  and  do  thyn  observaunce. ' 
This  inaked  Emelye  have  remembraunce 
To  doon  honour  to  May,  and  for  to  ryse. 
Y-clothed  was  she  fresh,  for  to  devyse;4 
Hir  yelow  heer  was  broyded  in  a  tresse, 
Bihynde  hir  bak,  a  yerde  long,  I  gesse. 
And  in  the  gardin,  at  the  sonne  up-riste, 
She  walketh  up  and  doun,  and  as  hir  liste5 
She  gadereth  floures,  party6  whyte  and  rede, 
To  make  a  sotil7  gerland  for  hir  hede, 
And  as  an  aungel  hevenly  she  song. 

'I  know  not.  2Wont,  habit.  3Dressed.  4To  tell  or  de- 
scribe: the  phrase  is  really  superfluous.  fi  Listed,  pleased, 
6Partly.  7Subtle;  the  literal  meaning  is  finely  woven. 


PALAMOX  AXD.ARCITE  55 

For  sprightly  May  commands  our  youth  to  keep 
The  vigils  of  her  night,  and  breaks  their  sluggard 

sleep ; 

Kurh  gentle  breast  with  kindly  warmth  she  moves; 
Inspires  new  flames,  revives  extinguished  loves. 

iso  In  this  remembrance  Emily  ere  day 
Arose,  and  dressed  herself  in  rich  array, 
Fresh  as  the  month,  and  as  the  niorning  fair; 
Adown  her  shoulders  fell  her  length  of  hair :  /    ! 

A  ribband  did  the  braided  tresses  bind, 

The  rest  was  loose,  and  wantoned  in  the  wind: 
Aurora  had  but  newly  rhused  the  night, 
And  purpled  o'er  the  sky  with  blushing  light, 
When  to  the  garden-walk  she  took  her  way, 
To  sport  and  trip  along  in  cool  of  day, 

190  And  offer  maiden  vows  in  honour  of  the  May. 

At  every  turn,  she  made  a  little  stand,. 
And  thrust  among  the  thorns  her  lily  hand 
To  draw  the  rose,  and  every  rose  she  drew, 
She  shook  the  stalk,  and  brushed  away  the.  dew; 

195  Then  party-coloured  flowers  of  white  and  red 
She  wove,  to  make  a  garland  for  her  head : 
Thia  done,  she  sung  and  carolled  out  so  clear, 
That  men  and  angels  might  rejoice  to  hear; 
Even  wondering  Philomel  forgot  to  sing, 

200  And  learned  from  her  to  welcome  in  the  spring. 
The  tower,  of  which  before  was  mention  made, 
Within  whose  keep  the  captive  knights  were  laid, 
Built  of  a  large  extent,  and  strong  withal, 
Was  one  partition  of  the  palace  wall ; 


56  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

The  garden  was  enclosed  within  the  square,  ~  2o.s 

Where  young  Emilia  took  the  morning  air.  7  I 

It  happened  Palamon,  the  prisoner  knight, 
Restless  for  woe,  arose  before  the  light, 
And  with  his  jailer's  leave  desired  to  breathe 
An  air  more  wholesome  than  the  damps  beneath.  2io 

>This  granted,  to  the  tower  he  took  his  way. 
Cheered  with  the  promise  of  a  glorious  day : 
Then  cast  a  languishing  regard  around, 

•»  And  saw,  with  hateful  eyes,  the  temples  crowned 
With  golden  spires,  and  all  the  hostile  ground.         o15 

v  He  sighed,  and  turned  his  eyes,  because  he  knew 
'Twas  but  a  larger  jail  he  had  in  view; 
Then  looked  below,  and  from  the  castle's  height 
Beheld  a  nearer  and  more  pleasing  sight ; 
The  garden,  which,  before  he  had  not  seen  220 

In  spring's  new  livery  clad  of  white  and  green, 
Fresh  flowers  in  wide  parterres,  and  shady  walks 

between. 

This  viewed,  but  not  enjoyed,  with  arms  across 
He  stood,  reflecting  on  his  country's  loss ; 
Himself  an  object  of  the  public  scorn,  225 

And  often  wished  he  never  had  been  born. 
At  last,  (for  so  his  destiny  required), 
With  walking  giddy,  and  with  thinking  tired, 
He  through  a  little  window  cast  his  sight, 
Though  thick  of  bars,  that  gave  a  scanty  light ;        030 
But  even  that  glimmering  served  him  to  descry 
The  inevitable  charms  of  Emily. 

Scarce  had  he  seen,  but  seized  with  sudden  smart, 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  57 

Stung  to  the  quick,  he  felt  it  at  his  heart ; 

235  Struck  blind  with  overpowering  light  he  stood, 
Then  started  back  amazed,  and  cried  aloud. 

Young  Arcite  heard ;  and  up  he  ran  with  haste, 
To  help  his  friend,  and  in  his  arms  embraced ; 
And  asked  him  why  he  looked  so  deadly  wan, 

240  And  whence,  and  how,  his  change  of  cheer  began? 
Or  who  had  done  the  offence?     "But  if,"  said  he, 
"Your  grief  alone  is  hard  captivity, 
For  love  of  Heaven  with  patience  undergo 
A  cureless  ill,  since  Fate  will  have  it  so: 

245  So  stood  our  horoscope  in  chains  to  lie,  " 
And  Saturn  in  the  dungeon  of  the  sky, 
Or  other  baleful  aspect,  ruled  our  birth 
When  all  the  friendly  stars  were  under  earth ; 
Whatever  betides,  by  Destiny  'tis  done; 

250  And  better  bear  like  men  than  vainly  seek  to  shun. " 

"Nor  of  my  bonds,"  said  Palamon  again, 
"Nor  of  unhappy  planets  I  complain; 
But  when  my  mortal  anguish  caused  my  cry, 
,  .The  moment  I  was  hurt  through  either  eye ; 

25$  pierced  with  a  random  shaft,  I  faint  away, 
And  perish  with  insensible  decay : 
A  glance  of  some  new  goddess  gave  the  wound, 
Whom,  like  Actaeon,  unaware  I  found. 
Look  how  she  walks  along  yon  shady  space; 

seo  Not  Juno  moves  with  more  majestic  grace, 

»     And  all  the  Cyprian  queen  is  in  her  face. 
If  thou  art  Venus,  (for  thy  charms  confess 
That  face  was  formed  in  heaven),  nor  art  thou  less, 


n 


58  PALAMON  AND   ARCITE 

VjDisguised  in  habit,  undisguised  in  shape, 
O  help  us  captives  from  our  chains  to  scape'  20? 

But  if  our  doom  be  past  in  bonds  to  lie 
For  life,  and  in  a  loathsome  dungeon  die, 
Then  be  thy  wrath  appeased  with  our  disgrace, 
And  show  compassion  to  the  Theban  race, 
Oppressed  by  tyrant  power!"  -While  yet  he  spoke,  2:0 
Arcite  on  Emily  had  fixed  his  look ; 
The  fatal  dart  a  ready  passage  found 
And  deep  within  his  heart  infixed  tfye  wound : 
So  that  if  Palamon  were  wounded  sore 
Arcite  was  hurt  as  much  as  he  or  more.  275 

Then  from  his  inmost  soul  he  sighed,  and  said, 
"The  beauty  I  behold  has  struck  me  dead: 

]|LTnknowingly  she  strikes,  and  kills  by  chance; 

jjPoison  is  in  her  eyes,  and  death  in  every  glance. 

»0h,  I  must  ask;  nor  ask  alone,  but  move  aso 

Her  mind  to  mercy,  or  must  die  for  love." 
Thus  Arcite:  and  thus  Palamon  replies, 
(Eager  his  tone,  and  ardent  were  his  eyes,) 
"Speakst  thou  in  earnest,  or  in  jesting  vein?" 
"Jesting,"  said  Arcite,  "suits  but  ill  with  pain."  ass 
"It  suits  far  worse,"  (said  Palamon  again, 
And  bent  his  brows),  "with  men  who  honour  weigh, 
Their  faith  to  break,  their  friendship  to  betray; 
But  worst  with  thee,  of  noble  lineage  born, 
My  kinsman,  and  in  arms  my  brother  sworn.  290 

Have  we  not  plighted  each  our  holy  oath, 

, 

266  (250). — And  if  so  be  my  destinee  be  shapen 
By  eterne  word  to  dyen  in  prisoun, 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  59 

That  one  should  be  the  common  good  of  both ; 
One  soul  should  both  inspire,  and  neither  prove 
His  fellow's  hindrance  in  pursuit  of  love? 
295  To  this  before  the  Gods  we  gave  our  hands, 
And  nothing  but  our  death  can  break  the  bands. 
This  binds  thee,  then,  to  farther  my  design, 
As  I  am  bound  by  vow  to  farther  thine : 
Nor  canst,  nor  dares t  thou,  traitor,  on  the  plain 
300  Appeach  my  honour,  or  thy  own  maintain, 
Since  thou  art  of  my  council,  and  the  friend 
Whose  faith  I  trust,  and  on  whose  care  depend. 
And  wouldst  thou  court  my  lady's  love,  which  I 
Much  rather  than  release,  would  choose  to  die? 
305  But  thou,  false  Arcite,  never  shalt  obtain 
Thy  bad  pretence :  I  told  thee  first  my  pain  : 
For  first  my  love  began  ere  thine  was  born ; 
Thou  as  my  council,  and  my  brother  sworn, 
Art  bound  to  assist  my  eldership  of  right, 
3io    Or  justly  to  be  deemed  a  perjured  knight." 

Thus  Palamon:  but  Arcite  with  disdain 
In  haughty  language  thus  replied  again : 
' 'Forsworn  thyself:  the  traitor's  odious  name 
I  first  return,  and  then  disprove  thy  claim, 
sis    If  love  be  passion,  and  that  passion  nurst 
With  strong  desires,  I  loved  the  lady  first. 
Canst  thou  pretend  desire,  whom  zeal  inflamed 
To  worship,  and  a  power  celestial  named? 

313  (295).— 

'Thou  shalt,'  quod  he,  'be  rather  fals  than  I; 
But  thou  art  fals,  I  telle  thee  utterly. ' 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Thine  was  devotion  to  the  blest  above, 
I  .saw  the  woman,  and  desired  her  love;  320 

First  owned  my  passion,  and  to  thee  commend 
The  important  secret,  as  my  chosen  friend. 
Suppose  (which  yet  I  grant  not)  thy  desire 
A  moment  elder  than  my  rival  fire ; 
Can  chance  of  seeing  first  thy  title  prove?  325 

And  knowst  thou  not,, no  law  is  made  for  love; 
/Taw  is  to  things  which  to  free  choice  relate ; 
Love  is  not  in  our  choice,  but  in  our  fate ; 
Laws  are  not  positive;  love's  power  we  see 
Is  Nature's  sanction,  and  her  first  decree.  330 

Each  day  we  break  the  bond  of  human  laws 
For  love,  and  vindicate  the  common  cause. 
Laws  for  defence  of  civil  rights  are  placed, 
Love  throws  the  fences  down,  and  makes  a  general 
- '    waste. 

Maids,  widows,  wives  without  distinction  fall;  33f> 

The  sweeping  deluge,  love,*  comes  on,  and  covers 

all. 

If  then  the  laws  of  friendship  I  transgress, 
I  keep  the  greater,  while  I  break  the  less ; 
And  both  are  mad  alike,  since  neither  can  possess. 
Both  hopeless  to  be  ransomed,  never  more  340 

To  see  the  sun,  but  as  he  passes  o'er. 
Like  ^Esop's  hounds  contending  for  the  bone, 
Each  pleaded  right,  and  would  be  lord  alone : 
The  fruitless  fight  continued  all  the  day, 

328  (311). — A    man    moot  needes  love,  maugree  his 
j  heed.     (A  man  must  needs  love  in  spite  of  reason.) 


PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE  61 

345  A  cur  oame  by,  and  snatched  the  prize  away. 
As  courtiers  therefore  justle  for  a  grant, 
And  when  they  break  their  friendship,  plead  their 

want, 

So  thou,  if  Fortune  will  thy  suit  advance, 
Love  on,  nor  envy  me  my  equal  chance : 

350  For  I  must  love,  and  am  resolved  to  try 
My  fate,  or  failing  in  the  adventure  die." 

( ireat  was  their  strife,  which  hourly  was  renewed, 
Till  each  with  mortal  hate  his  rival  viewed : 
Now  friends  no  more,  nor  walking  hand  in  hand ; 

355  But  when  they  met,  they  made  a  surly  stand, 
And  glared  like  angry  lions  as  they  passed, 
And  wished  that  every  look  might  be  their  last. 

It  chanced  at  length,  Pirithous  came  to  attend\ 
This  worthy  Theseus,  his  familiar  friend; 

360  Their  love  in  early  infancy  began, 

And  rose  as  childhood  ripened  into  man, 
Companions  of  the  war ;  and  loved  so  well, 
That  when  one  died,  as  ancient  stories  tell, 
His  fellow  to  redeem  him  went  to  hell. 

3^5      But,  to  pursue  my  tale:  to  welcome  home 
His  warlike  brother  is  Pirithous  come : 
Arcite  of  Thebes  was  known  in  arms  long  since 
And  honoured  by  this  young  Thessalian  prince. 

349  (325).— Love  if  thee  list ;  for  I  love  and  ay  shal ; 
And  sothly,1  leve2  brother,  this  is  al. 

359  (333).— A  worthy  duk  that  highte  Perotheus, 
367  (344).— Duk  Perotheus  loved  wel  Arcite, 


1  Truly.       2  Loved ,  beloved . 


»''-  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Theseus,  to  gratify  his  friend  and  guest, 
U'ho  made  our  Arcite 's  freedom  his  request,  sro 

Restored  to  liberty  the  captive  knight ; 
But  on  these  hard  conditions  I  recite ; 
That  if  hereafter  Arcite  should  be  found 
Within  the  compass  of  Athenian  ground, 
By  day  or  night  or  on  whatever  pretence,      *  375 

His  head  should  pay  the  forfeit  of  the  offence. 
To  this  Pirithous  for  his  friend  agreed, 
[_And  on  his  promise  was  the  prisoner  freed. 

Un pleased    and    pensive   hence    he    takes    his 

way, 

At  his  own  peril ;  for  his  life  must  pay.  sso 

Who  now  but  Arcite  mourns  his  bitter  fate, 
Finds  his  dear  purchase,  and  repents  too  late? 
4 ' What    have    I    gained,"    he    said,    "in    prison 

pent, 

If  I  but  change  my  bonds  for  banishment? 
And  banished  from  her  sight,  I  suffer  more  3^5 

In  freedom,  than  I  felt  in  bonds  before ; 
Forced    from    her  presence,  and    condemned    to 

live, 

Unwelcome  freedom,  and  unthanked  reprieve : 
Heaven  is  not,  but  where  Emily  abides, 
And  where  she's  absent,  all  is  hell  besides.  3&o: 

Next  to  my  day  of  birth,  was  that  accurst, 
Which  bound  my  friendship  to  Pirithous  first : 
Had  I  not  known  that  prince,  I  still  had  been 
In  bondage,  and  had  still  Emilia  seen : 
For  though  I  never  can  her  grace  deserve, 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  63 

"'Tis  recompense  enough  to  see  and  serve. 
0  Palamon,  my  kinsman  and  my  friend, 
How  much  more  happy  fates  thy  love  attend ! 
Thine  is  the  adventure,  thine  the  victory, 

400  Well  has  thy  fortune  turned  the  dice  for  thee : 
Thou  on  that  angel's  face  mayest  feed  thy  eyes, 
In  prison,  no;  but  blissful  paradise! 
Thou  daily  seest  that  sun  of  beauty  shine, 
And  lovest  at  least  in  love's  extreniest  line. 

405  I  mourn  in  absence,  love's  eternal  night; 

And  who  can  tell  but  since  thou  hast  her  sight, 
And  art  a  comely,  young,  and  valiant  knight, 
Fortune  (a  various  power)  may  cease  to  frown, 
And  by  some  ways  unknown  thy  wishes  crown? 

4.0  But  I,  the  most  forlorn  of  human  kind, 
Nor  help  can  hope,  nor  remedy  can  find; 
But  doomed  to  drag  my  loathsome  life  in  care, 
For  my  reward,  must  end  it  in  despair. 
Fire,  water,  air,  and  earth,  and  force  of  fates 

4io  That  governs  all,  and  Heaven  that  all  creates, 
Nor  art,  nor  Nature's  hand  can  ease  my  grief; 
Nothing  but  death,  the  wretch's  last  relief: 
Then  farewell  youth,  and  all  the  joys  that  dwell 

396  (373).— 

Only  the  sighte  of  hir,  whom  that  I  serve, 
Though  that  I  nevere  hir  grace  may  deserve, 
Wolde  han  suffised  right  ynough  for  me. 

418  (391).— 

Wei  oughte  I  sterve  in  wanhope1  and  distresse ; 
Farwel  my  lyf,  my  lust,2  and  my  gladnesse. 


'Despair.       ~  Pleasure. 


64  PALAMOX  AND  ARC  IT  I : 

With  youth  and  life,  and  life  itself,  farewell ! 

"  But  why,  alas!  do  mortal  men  in  vain 
Of  Fortune,  Fate,  or  Providence  complain? 
(<od  gives  us  what  He  knows  our  wants  require, 
And  better  things  than  those  which  we  desire: 
Some  pray  for  riches;  riches  they  obtain; 
But,  watched  by  robbers,  for  their  wealth  are  slain : 
Some  pray  from  prison  to  be  freed;  and  come, 
When  guilty  of  their  vows,  to  fall  at  h.ome; 
Murdered  by  those  they  trusted  with  their  life, 
A  favoured  servant  or  a  bosom  wife. 
Such  dear-bought  blessings  happen  every  day, 
Because  we  know  not  for  what  things  to  pray. 
Like  drunken  sots  about  the  streets  we  roam : 
Well  knows  the  sot  he  has  a  certain  home, 
Yet  knows  not  how  to  find  the  uncertain  place, 
And  blunders  on,  and  staggers  every  pace. 
Thus  all  seek  happiness ;  but  few  can  find, 
For  far  the  greater  part  of  men  are  blind. 
This  is  my  case,  who  thought  our  utmost  good 
Was  in  one  word  of  freedom  understood : 
The  fatal  blessing  came:  from  prison  free, 
I  starve  abroad,  and  lose  the  sight  of  Emily." 

Thus  Arcite:  but  if  Arcite  thus  deplore 
IT  is  sufferings,  Palamon  yet  suffers  more. 

432  (403). — We  faren  as  he  that  dronke  is  as  a  mous;1 

441  (415). — Sin  that  I  may  nat  seen  yow,  Emelye, 
I  nam  but  deed ;  ther  iiis2  no  remedye. 


'Mouse.    "  As  drunk  as  a  mouse  "  ami  "as  drunk  as  a  rat  "  are 
old  sayings,      2Is  not.    The  double  negative  is  common  in  Chaucer. 


PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE  <>o 

For  when  lie  knew  his  rival  freed  and  gone, 

445  He  swells  with  wrath;  he  makes  outrageous  moan ; 
He   frets,    he   fumes,   he    stares,   he    stamps   the 

ground ; 

The  hollow  tower  with  clamours  rings  around : 
With  briny  tears  he  bathed  his  fettered  feet, 
And  dropped  all  o'er  with  agony  of  sweat. 

45o."Alas!"  he  cried,  "I,  wretch,  in  prison  pine, 
Too  happy  rival,  while  the  fruit  is  thine: 
Thou  livest  at  large,  thou  drawest  thy  native  .air, 
Pleased  with  thy  freedom,  proud  of  my  despair : 
Thou  mayest,  since  thou  hast  youth  and  courage 
joined, 

455  A  sweet  behaviour  and  a  solid  mind, 
Assemble  ours,  and  all  the  Theban  race, 
To  vindicate  on  Athens  thy  disgrace ; 
And  after  (by  some  treaty  made),  possess 
Fair  Emily,  the  pledge  of  lasting  peace. 

460  So  thine  shall  be  the  beauteous  prize,  while  I 
Must  languish  in  despair,  in  prison  die. 
Thus  all  the  advantage  of  the  strife  is  thine, 
Thy  portion  double  joys,  and  double  sorrows  mine." 
The  rage  of  jealousy  then  fired  his  soul, 

465  And  his  face  kindled  like  a  burning  coal  : 
Xow  cold  despair,  succeeding  in  her  stead. 
To  livid  paleness  turns  the  glowing  red, 
His  blood,  scarce  liquid,  creeps  within  his  veins, 

460  (435).— 

Greet  is  thin  avauntage, 
More  than  is  myn;  that  sterve  here  in  a  cage. 


«'«•  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Like  water  which  the  freezing  wind  constrains. 

Then  thus  he  said:  "Eternal  Deities,  470 

Who  rule  the  world  with  absolute  decrees, 

And  write  whatever  time  shall  bring  to  pass, 

With  pens  of  adamant  on  plates  of  brass ; 

What  is  the  race  of  human  kind  your  care 

Beyond  what  all  his  fellow-creatures  are?  475 

He  with  the  rest  is  liable  to  pain, 

And  like  the  sheep,  his  brother -beast,  is  slain. 

Cold,  hunger,  prisons,  ills  without  a  cure, 

All  these  he  must,  and  guiltless  oft,  endure; 

Or  does  your  justice,  power,  or  prescience  fail,         480 

When  the  good  suffer  and  the  bad  prevail? 

What  worse  to  wretched  virtue  could  befal, 

If  Fate  or  giddy  Fortune  governed  all? 

Nay,  worse  than  other  beasts  is  our  estate : 

Them,  to  pursue  their  pleasures,  you  create;  485 

We,  bound  by  harder  laws,  must  curb  our  will, 

And  your  commands,  not  our  desires,  fulfil; 

Then,  when  the  creature  is  unjustly  slain, 

Yet,  after  death  at  least,  he  feels  no  pain ; 

But  man  in  life  surcharged  with  woe  before,  490 

Not  freed  when  dead,  is  doomed  to  suffer  more 

A  serpent  shoots  his  sting  at  unaware ; 

An  ambushed  thief  forelays  a  traveller ; 

The   man   lies    murdered,   while    the    thief    and 

snake, 
One  gains  the  thickets,  and  one  thrids  the  brake.  495 

488  (461).— 

And  whan  a  beest  is  deed,  he  hath  no  peym> ; 


PALAMON 'AND  ARCITE  67 

This  let  divines  decide;  but  well  I  know, 

Just  or  unjust,  I  have  my  share  of  woe; 

Through  Saturn  seated  in  a  luckless  place, 

And  Juno's  wrath,  that  persecutes  my  race; 
500  Or  Mars  and  Venus  in  a  quartil  move 

.My  pangs  of  jealousy  for  Arcite 's  love." 
Let  Palamon  oppressed  in  bondage  mourn, 

AVhile  to  his  exiled  rival  we  return. 

IJy  this  the  sun,  declining  from  his  height, 
505  The  day  had  shortened  to  prolong  the  night : 

The  lengthened  night  gave  length  of  misery, 

Both  to  the  captive  lover  and  the  free : 

For  Palamon  in  endless  prison  mourns, 

And  Arcite  forfeits  life  if  he  returns; 
510  The  banished  never  hopes  his  love  to  see, 

Xor  hopes  the  captive  lord  his  liberty. 

'Tis  hard  to  say  who  suffers  greater  pains; 

One  sees  his  love,  but  cannot  break  his  chains ; 

One  free,  and  all  his  motions  uncontrolled, 
sis  Beholds  whate'er  he  would  but  what  he  would  behold. 

Judge  as  you  please,  for  I  will  haste  to  tell 

What  fortune  to  the  banished  knight  befel. 
When  Arcite  was  to  Thebes  returned  again, 

The  loss  of  her  he  loved  renewed  his  pain; 

496  (465).— 

The  answere  of  this  I  lete1  to  divynis, 

But  wel  I  woot,2  that  in  this  world  gret  pynes  is, 

511  (489).— 

Yow  loveres  axe  I  now  this  questioun, 
Who  hath  the  worse,  Arcite  or  Palamoun? 


lLeave.       2Know.       3Pain. 


68  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

What  could  be  worse  than  never  more  to  see  520 

His  life,  his  soul,  his-  charming  Emily? 

He  raved  with  all  the  madness  of  despair, 

He  roared,  he  beat  his  breast,  he  tore  his  hair. 

Dry  sorrow  in  his  stupid  eyes  appears, 

For  wanting  nourishment,  lie  wanted  tears;  r,^ 

His  eyeballs  in  their  hollow  sockets  sink, 

Bereft  of  sleep;  he  loathes  his  meat  and  drink; 

He  withers  at  his  heart,  and  looks  as  wan 

As  the  pale  spectre  of  a  murdered  man: 

That  pale  turns  yellow,  and  his  face  receives  f,o.} 

The  faded  hue  of  sapless  boxen  leaves ; 

In  solitary  groves  he  makes  his  moan, 

AValks  early  out,  and  ever  is  alone; 

Nor,  mixed  in  mirth,  in  youthful  pleasure  shares, 

But  sighs  when  songs  and  instruments  he  Jiears.      535 

His  spirits  are  so  low,  his  voice  is  drowned, 

He  hears  as  from  afar,  or  in  a  swound, 

Like  the  deaf  murmurs  of  a  distant  sound : 

Uncombed  his  locks  and  squalid  his  attire, 

Unlike  the  trim  of  love  and  gay  desire ;  540 

But  full  of  museful  mopings,  which  presage 

527  (503).— 

His  sleep,  his  mete,  his  drink  is  him  biraft,1 
That  lene  he  wex,2  and  drye  as  is  a  shaft.3 

541  (519). — And  shortly,  turned  was  al  up-so-douu 
Bothe  habit  and  eek4  disposicioun 
Of  him,  this  woful  lovere  daun5  Arcite. 


JBereft;  the  modern  idiom  is,  he  was  bereft  of  sleep,  etc. 
"Grew.  3Arrow  or  pole.  Cf.  the  modern  phrase  "  as  dry  as  a 
stick."  4Also.  6A  title  of  respect,  originally  given  to  monks; 
it  comes  from  Dumin  :w.  Chaucer  himself  \vas  called  Dan  Chaucer. 


PALAMON  AXD  ARCITE  09 

The  loss  of  reason  and  conclude  in  rage. 

This  when  he  had  endured  a  year  and  more, 
Xow  wholly  changed  from  what  he  was  before^, 

545  It  happened  once,  that,  slumbering  as  he  lay, 
lie  dreamt  (his  dream  began  at  break  of  day) 
That  Hermes  o'er  his  head  in  uir  appeared, 
And  with  soft  words  his  drooping  spirits  cheered: 
His  hat  adorned  with  wings  disclosed  the  god, 

&50  And  in  his  hand  he  bore  the  sleep-compelling  rod : 
Such  as  he  seemed,  when,  at  his  sire's  command, 
On  Argus'  head  he  laid  the  snaky  wand. 
4 'Arise,"  he  said,  k<to  conquering  Athens  go; 
There  Fate  appoints  an  end  of  all  thy  woe." 

555  The  fright  awakened  Arcite  with  a  start, 
Against  his  bosom  bounced  his  heaving  heart ; 
But  soon  he  said,  with  scarce  recovered  breath, 
"And  thither  will  I  go,  to  meet  my  death, 
Sure  to  be  slain ;  but  death  is  my  desire, 

56(>  Since  in  Emilia's  sight  I  shall  expire." 
By  chance  he  spied  a  mirror  while  he  spoke, 
And  gazing  there  beheld  his  altered  look; 

550  (529).— 

His  slepy  yerde1  in  hond  he  bar  uprighte ; 
An  hat  he  werede2  up-on  his  heres3  brighte, 

556  (535).— Chaucer  says  only: 

And  with  that  word  Arcite  wook*  and  sterte. 

559  (538). — Ne5  for  the  drede  of  deeth  shal  I  nat  spare 
To  see  my  lady,  that  I  love  and  serve ; 
In  hir  presence  I  recche*  nat  to  sterve.7 


'Wand.       2Wore.       3 Hair,  locks.       4Woke.       s Nor-  a  double 
negative.       6Keccbe,  make  no  account  of  (dying).       7Die. 


70  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Pondering,  he  saw  his  features  and  his  hue 

So  much  were   changed,  that  scarce  himself  he 

knew. 

A  sudden  thought  then  starting  in  his  mind,  56?. 

"  Since  I  in  Arcite  cannot  Arcite  find, 
The  world  may  search  in  vain  with  all  their  eyes, 
But  never  penetrate  through  this  disguise. 
Thanks  to  the  change   which  grief  and  sickness 

give, 

In  low  estate  I  may  securely  live,  570 

And  see,  unknown,  my  mistress  day  by  day." 
He  said,  and  clothed  himself  in  coarse  array, 
A  labouring  hind  in  show ;  then  forth  he  went, 
And  to  the  Athenian  towers  his  journey  bent : 
One  squire  attended  in  the  same  disguise,  575 

Made  conscious  of  his  master's  enterprise. 
Arrived  at  Athens,  soon  he  came  to  court, 
Unknown, unquestioned,  in  that  thick  resort: 
Proffering  for  hire  his  service  at  the  gate, 
To  drudge,  draw  water,  and  to  run  or  wait.  sso 

So  fair  befel  him,  that  for  little  gain 
He  served  at  first  Emilia's  chamberlain ; 
And  watchful  all  advantages  to  spy, 
Was  still  at  hand,  and  in  his  master's  eye; 
And  as  his  bones  were  big,  and  sinews  strong,          585 
Refused  no  toil  that  could  to  slaves  belong; 
But  from  deep  wells  with  engines  water  drew, 
And  used  his  .noble  hands  the  wood  to  hew. 
He  passed  a  year  at  least  attending  thus 
On  Emily,  and  called  Philostratus.  soo 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  71 

But  never  was  there  man  of  his  degree 

So  much  esteemed,  so  well  beloved  as  he. 

So  gentle  of  condition  was  he  known, 

That  through  the  court  his  courtesy  was  blown? 

595  All  think  him  worthy  of  a  greater  place, 
And  recommend  him  to  the  royal  grace ; 
That  exercised  within  a  higher  sphere. 
His  virtues  more  conspicuous  might  appear. 
Thus  by  the  general  .voice  was  Arcite  praised, 

eoo  And  by  great  Theseus  to  high  favour  raised ; 
Among  his  menial  servants  first  enrolled, 
And  largely  entertained  with  sums  of  gold : 
Besides  what  secretly  from  Thebes  was  sent, 
Of  his  own  income,  and  his  annual  rent. 

605  This  well  employed,  he  purchased  friends  and  fame, 
But  cautiously  concealed  from  whence  it  came. 
Thus  for  three  years  he  lived  with  large  increase, 
In   arms  of  honour,  and  esteem  in  peace; 
To  Theseus'  person  he  was  ever  near ; 

6io  And  Theseus  for  his  virtues  held  him  dear. 

000  (582).— 

That  of  his  chambre  he  made  him  a  squyer, 


BOOK    IT 

While  Arcite  lives  in  bliss,  the  story  turns 
Where  hopeless  Palamon  in  prison  mourns. 
For  six  long  years  immured,  the  captive  knight 
Had   dragged  his   chains,  and    scarcely  seen    the 

light:       . 

Lost  liberty  and  love  at  once  lie  bore;  6I5 

His  prison  pained  him  much,  his  passion  more: 
Xor  dares  he  hope  his  fetters  to  remove,    • 
Xor  ever  wishes  to  be  free  from  love. 

But  when  the  sixth  revolving  year  was  run, 
And  May  within  the  Twins  received  the  sun,  e20 

Were  it  by  Chance,  or  forceful  Destiny, 
Which  forms  in  causes  first  whatever  shall  be, 
Assisted  by  a  friend  one  moonless  night, 
This  Palamon  from  prison  took  his  flight : 
A  pleasant  beverage  he  prepared  before  €25 

Of  wine  and  honey  mixed,  with  added  store 
Of  opium;  to  his  keeper  this  he  brought, 
Who  swallowed  unaware  the  sleepy  draught, 

616  (598).— That  wood1  out  of  his  wit  he  goth2  for  wo: 

622  (608). — As,  whan  a  thing  is  shapen,3  it  shal  be, 

623  (605).— The  thridde4  night,  (as  olde  bokes  seyn, 

That  al  this  storie  tellen  more  pleyn). 


'Mad.       2Goeth.       'Destined.       "Third. 


OF   TH€ 

UNIVERSITY 

OF  ^ 

>N  AND  ARCITE  73 


And  suored  secure  till  morn,  his  senses  bound 

630  In  slumber,  and  in  long  oblivion  drowned. 
Short  was  the  night,  and  careful  Palamon 
Sought  the  next  covert  ere  the  rising  sun. 
A  thick -spread  forest  near  the  city  lay, 
To  this  with  lengthened  strides  he  took  his  way> 

635  (For  far  he  could  not  fly,  and  feared  the  day.) 
Safe  from  pursuit,  he  meant  to  shun  the  light, 
Till  the  brown  shadows  of  the  friendly  night 
To  Thebes  might  favour  his  intended  flight. 
When  to  his  country  come,  his  next  design 

640  Was  all  the  Theban  race  in  arms  to  join, 
And  war  on  Theseus,  till  he  lost  his  life, 
Or  won  the  beauteous  Emily  to  wife. 
Thus  while  his  thoughts  the  lingering  day  beguile, 
To  gentle  Arcite  let  us  turn  our  style ; 

645  Who  little  dreamt  how  nigh  he  was  to  care, 

Till  treacherous  fortune  caught  him  in  the  snare. 
The  moriung*lark,  the  messenger  of  day, 
Saluted  in  filr  song  the  morning  gray ; 
And  soon  the  sun  arose  with  beams  so  bright, 

629  (615).— 

That  al  that  night,  thogh  that  men  wolde  him  shake 
The  gayler1  sleep,  he  mighte  nat  awake ; 

647  (633).— 

The  bisy  larke,  messager  of  daye, 
Salueth  in  hir  song  the  morwe  graye ; 
And  fyry  Phebus  ryseth  up  so  brighte, 
That  al  the  orient  laugheth  of  the  lighte, 
And  with  his  stremes  dryeth  in  the  greves* 
The  silver  dropes,  hanging  on  the  leves. 


'Jailer.       ^Groves. 


U  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 


That  all   the  horizon  laughed  to  see   the  joyous  650 

sight; 

He  with  his  tepid  rays  the  rose  renews, 
And  licks  the  dropping  leaves,  and  dries  the  dews; 
When  Arcite  left  his  bed,  resolved  to  pay 
Observance  to  the  month  of  merry  May, 
Forth  on  his  fie,ry  steed  betimes  he  rode,  655 

That  scarcely  prints  the  turf  on  which  he  trod : 
At  ease  he  seemed,  and  prancing  o'er  the  plains, 
Turned  only  to  the  grove  his  horse's  reins, 
The  grove  I  named  Before,  and,  lighting  there, 
A  woodbind  garland  sought  to  crown  his  hair ;          eso 
Then  turned  his  face  against  the  rising  day, 
And  raised  his  voice  to  welcome  in  the  May : 

"For    thee,    sweet    month,    the    groves    green 

liveries  wear, 

If  not  the  first,  the^fairest  of  the  year: 
For  thee  the  Graces  lead  the  dancing  hours,  a65 

And  Nature's  ready  pencil  paints  the  flowers : 
When  thy  short  reign  is  past,  the  feverish  sun 

657  (644);— 

He  on  a  courser,  sterting1  as  the  fyr,1 
Is  riden  into  the  feeldes,  him  to  pleye, 
Out  of  the  court,  were  it  a  myle  or  tweye ; 

660  (650).— 

Were  it  of  woodebynde  or  hawethorn-leves, 
And  loude  he  song  ageyn3  the  sonne  shene. 

662-672  (652).— Chaucer  has  only  three  lines: 
May,  with  alle  thy  floures  and  thy  grene, 
Wei-come  be  thou,  wel  faire  fresshe  May, 
I  hope  that  I  som  grene  gete  may. 


'Leaping,  prancing.     2Fire.    3  Modem  idiom,  **  in  the  sunshine.' 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  7o 

The  sultry  tropic  fears,  and  moves  more  slowly  on. 
So  may  thy  tender  blossoms  fear  no  blight, 

670  Nor  goats  with  venomed  teeth  thy  tendrils  bite, 
As  thou  shalt  guide  my  wandering  feet  to  find 
The,  fragrant  greens  I  seek,  my  brows  to  bind." 

His  vows  addressed,  within  the  grove  he  strayed, 
Till  Fate  or  Fortune  near  the  place  conveyed 

«75  His  steps  where  secret  Palamon  was  laid. 
Full  little  thought  of  him  the  gentle  knight, 
Who  flying  death  had  there  concealed  his  flight, 
In  brakes  and  brambles  hid,  and  shunning  mortal 

sight ; 
And  less  he  knew  him  for  his  hated  foe, 

tsso  But  feared  him  as  a  man  he  did  not  know. 
But  as  it  has  been  said  of  ancient  years, 
That  fields  are  full  of  eyes  and  woods  have  ears, 
For  this  the  wise  are  ever  on  their  guard, 
For  unforeseen,  they  say,  is  unprepared. 

s*r  Uncautious  Arcite  thought  himself  alone, 
And  less  than  all  suspected  Palamon, 
Who,  listening,  heard  him,  while  he  searched  the 

grove, 

And  loudly  sung  his  roundelay  of  love : 
But  on  the  sudden  stopped,  and  silent  stood, 

675  (658).— 

Ther  as  by  aventure  this  Palamoun 

Was  in  a  bush,  that  no  man  mighte  him  see, 

For  sore  afered  of  his  deeth  was  he. 

687  (669).— 

For  in  the  bush  he1  sitteth  now  ful  stille. 


Palamon. 


76  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

(As  lovers  often  muse,  and  change  their  mood;)       690 

Now  high  as  heaven,  and  then  as  low  as  hell, 

Now  up,  now  down,  as  buckets  in  a  well: 

For  Venus,  like  her  day,  will  change  her  cheer, 

And  seldom  shall  we  see  a  Friday  clear. 

Thus  Arcite,  having  sung,  with  altered  hue  &* 

Sunk  on  the  ground,  and  from  his  bosom  drew 

A  desperate  sigh,  accusing  Heaven  and  Fate, 

And  angry  Juno's  unrelenting  hate: 

"Cursed  be  the  day  when  first  I  did  appear; 

Let  it  be  blotted  from  the  calendar,  TOO 

Lest  it  pollute  the  month,  and  poison  all  the  year. 

Still  will  the  jealous  Queen  pursue  our  race? 

Cadmus  is  dead,  the  Theban  city  was : 

Yet  ceases  not  her  hate ;  for  all  who  come 

From  Cadmus  are  involved  in  Cadmus'  doom.  705 

I  suffer  for  my  blood :  unjust  decree, 

That  punishes  another's  crime  on  me. 

In  mean  estate  I  serve  my  mortal  foe, 

The  man -who  caused  my  country's  overthrow. 

This  is  not  all;  for  Juno,  to  my  shame,  m 

Has  forced  me  to  forsake  my  former  name ; 

Arcite  I  was,  Philostratus  I  am. 

That  side  of  heaven  is  all  my  enemy : 

Mars  ruined  Thebes ;  his  mother  ruined  me. 

Of  all  the  royal  race  remains  but  one  :i:> 

712  (699),— 

But  ther  as  I  was  wont  to  hote1  Arcite, 

Now  highte  I  Philostrate,  noght  worth  a  myte. 


Recalled. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  77 

Besides  myself,  the  unhappy  Palamon, 
Whom  Theseus  holds  in  bonds  and  will  not  free; 
Without  a  crime,  except  his  kin  to  me. 
Yet  these  and  all  the  rest  I  could  endure ; 

720  But  love's  a  malady  without  a  cure: 

Fierce  Love  has  pierced  me  with  his  fiery  dart, 
He  fries  within,  and  hisses  at  my  heart. 
Your  eyes,  fair  Emily,  my  fate  pursue; 
I  suffer  for  the  rest,  I  die  for  you. 

725  Of  such  a  goddess  no  time  leaves  record, 

Who  burned  the  temple  where  she  was  adored : 
And  let  it  burn,  I  never  ^ill  complain, 
Pleased  with  my  sufferings,  if  you  knew  my  pain.' 
At  this  a  sickly  qualm  his  heart  assailed, 

730  His  ears  ring  inward,  and  his  senses  failed. 
No  word  missed  Palamon  of  all  he  spoke ; 
But  soon  to  deadly  pale  he  changed  his  look ; 
He  trembled  every  limb,  and  felt  a  smart, 
As  if  cold  steel  had  glided  through  his  heart ; 

735  Nor  longer  stayed,  but  starting  from  his  place, 
Discovered  stood,  and  showed  his  hostile  face : 
"False  traitor,  Arcite,  traitor  to  thy  blood, 
Bound  by  thy  sacred  oath  to  seek  my  good, 
Xow  art  thou  found  forsworn  for  Emily, 

740  And  darest  attempt  her  love,  for  whom  I  die. 
So  hast  thou  cheated  Theseus  with  a  wile, 
Against  thy  vow,  returning  to  beguile 

735  (720).— 

As  he  were  wood,  with  face  deed  and  pale, 
He  sterte  him  up  out  of  the  buskes  thikke, 


78  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Under  a  borrowed  name :  as  false  to  me, 

So  false  thou  art  to  him  who  set  thee  free. 

But  rest  assured,  that  either  thou  shalt  die,  uis 

Or  else  renounce  thy  claim  in  Emily ; 

For  though  unarmed  I  am,  and,  freed  by  chance, 

Am  here  without  my  sword  or  pointed  lance : 

Hope  not,  base' man,  unquestioned  hence  to  go, 

For  I  am  Palamon,  thy  mortal  foe."  750 

Arcite,  who  heard  his  tale  and  knew  the  man, 
His  sword  unsheathed,  and  fiercely  thus  began : 
"Now,  by  the  gods  who  govern  heaven  above, 
Wert  thou  not  weak  with  hunger,  mad  with  love, 
That  word  had  been  thy  last;  or  in  this  grove          755 
This  hand  should  force  thee  to  renounce  thy  love; 
The  surety  which  I  gave  thee  I  defy : 
Fool,  not  to>  know  that  love  endures  no  tie, 
And  Jove  but  laughs  at  lovers'  perjury. 
Know,  I  will  serve  the  fair  in  thy  despite ;  760 

But  since  thou  art  my  kinsman  and  a  knight, 
Here,  have  my  faith,  to-morrow  in  this  grove. 
Our  arms  shall  plead  the  titles  of  our  love : 
And  Heaven  so  help  my  right,  as  I  alone 
Will  come,  and  keep  the  cause  and  quarrel  both  765 

unknown, 

With  arms  of  proof  both  for  myself  and  thee ; 
Choose  thou  the  best, 'and  leave  the  worst  to  me. 
And,  that  at  better  ease  thou  mayest  abide, 
Bedding  and  clothes  I  will  this  night  provide, 
And  needful  sustenance,  that  thou  mayest  be  770 

A  conquest  better  Avon,  and  worthy  me." 


PALAMO^  AND  ARCITE  ?3 

His  promise  Palamon  accepts ;  but  prayed , 
To  keep  it  better  than  the  first  he  made. 
Thus  fair  they  parted  till  the  morrow's  dawn; 

775  For  each  had  laid  his  plighted  faith  to  pawn. 
Oh  Love!  thou  sternly  dost  thy  power  maintain, 
And  wilt  not  bear  a  rival  in  thy  reign! 
Tyrants  and  thou  all  fellowship  disdain. 
This  was  in  Arcite  proved  and  Palamon : 

780  Both  in  despair,  yet  each  would  love  alone. 
Arcite  returned,  and,  as  in  honour  tied, 
His  foe  with  bedding  and  with  food  supplied; 
Then,  ere  the  day,  two  suits  of  armour  sought, 
Which  borne  before  him  on  his  steed  he  brought : 

785  Both  were  of  shining  steel,  and  wrought  so  pure 
As  might  the  strokes  of  two  such  arms  endure. 
Now,  at  the  time,  and  in  the  appointed  place, 
The  challenger  and  challenged,  face  to  face, 
Approach ;  each  other  from  afar  they  knew, 

790  And  from  afar  their  hatred  changed  their  hue. 
So  stands  the  Thraeian  herdsman  with  his  spear, 
Full  in  the  gap,  and  hopes  the  hunted  bear, 
And  hears  him  rustling  in  the  wood,  and  sees 
His  course  at  distance  by  the  bending  trees : 

795  And  thinks,  Here  comes  my  mortal  enemy, 
And  either  he  must  fall  in  fight,  or  I : 
This  while  he  thinks,  he  lifts  aloft  his  dart; 
A  generous  chillness  seizes  every  part, 

775  (764).— 

When  ech  of  hem  had  leyd  his  feith  to  borwe.1 


1  Given  his  faith  as  a  pledge. 


80  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

The  veins  pour  back  the  blood,  and  fortify  the 

heart. 

Thus  pale  they  meet ;  their  eyes  with  fury  burn ;  soo 
None  greets,  for  none  the  greeting  will  return ; 
But  in  dumb  surliness  each  armed  with  care 
.His  foe  professed,  as  brother  of  the  war; 
Then  both,  no  moment  lost,  at  once  advance 
Against/ each  other,  armed  with  sword  and  lance:  sos 
They  lash,  they  foin,  they  pass,  they  strive  to  bore 
Their  corslets,  and  the  thinnest  parts  explore.  ^ 

Thus  two  long  hours  in  equal  arms  they  stood, 
And  wounded  wound,    till  both  were  bathed  in 

blood  ^s  " 

And  not  a  foot  of  ground  had  either  got,  sio 

As  if  the  world  depended  on  the  spot. 
Fell  Arcite  like  an  angry  tiger  fared, 
And  like  a  lion  Palamon  appeared : 
()r,  as  two  boars  whom  love  to  battle  draws, 
With  rising  bristles  and  with  frothy  jaws,  sis 

Their    adverse    breasts    with   tusks   oblique   they 

wound, 

With  grunts  and  groans  the  forest  rings  around. 
So  fought  the  knights,  and  fighting  must  abide, 
Till  Fate  an  umpire  sends  their  difference  to  decide. 
The  power  that  ministers  to  God's  decrees,  820 

809  (802).— Up  to  the  ancle  foghte  they  in  hir  blood. 

812  (812).— For  certeinly  oure  appetytes  here, 

Be  it  of  werre,  or  pees,1  or  hate,  or  love, 
Al  is  this  reuled  by  the  sighte2  above. 


1Peaco.       2  Providence. 


PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE  81 

And  executes  on  earth  what  Heaven  foresees, 
Called  Providence,  or  Chance,  or  Fatal  sway, 
Comes  with  resistless  force,  and  finds  or  makes  her 

way. 

Nor  kings,  nor  nations,  nor  united  power 
One  moment  can  retard  the  appointed  hour ; 
And  some  one  day,  some  wondrous  chance  appears, 
Which  happened  not  in  centuries  of  years : 
For  sure,  whate'er  we  mortals  hate  or  love 
Or  hope  or  fear  depends  on  powers  above: 

^30  They  move  our  appetites  to  good  or  ill, 
And  by  foresight  necessitate  the  will. 
In  Theseus  this  appears,  whose  youthful  joy 

v     Was  beasts  of  chase  in  forests  to  destroy; 
This  gentle  knight,  inspired  by  jolly  May, 

835  Forsook  his  easy  couch  at  early  day, 

And  to  the  woods  and  wilds  pursued  his  way. 

Beside  him  rode  Hippolyta  the  queen, 

And  Emily  attired  in  lively  green, 

With    horns    and    hounds    and    all    the   tuneful 


840  To  hunt  a  royal  hart  within  the  covert  nigh : 
And,  as  he  followed  Mars  before,  so  now 
He  serves  the  goddess  of  the  silver  bow. 
The  way  that  Theseus  took  was  to  the  wood, 
Where  the  two  knights  in  cruel  battle  stood : 
£45  The  laund  on  which  they  fought,  the  appointed 

place 

In  which  the  uncoupled  hounds  began  the  chase. 
840  (824). — For  after  Mars  he  serveth  now  Diane. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Thither  forth-right  he  rode  to  rouse  the  prey. 

That  shaded  by  the  fern  in  harbour  lay; 

And  thence  dislodged,  was  wont  to  leave  the  wood 

For  open  fields,  and  cross  the  crystal  flood.  H?.O 

Approached,  and  looking  underneath  the  sun, 

lie  saw  proud  Arcite  and  fierce  Palamon, 

In  mortal  battle  doubling  blow  on  blow; 

Like  lightning  flamed  their  fauchions  to  and  fro, 

And  shot  a  dreadful,  gleam ;  so  strong  they  strook,  sss 

There  seemed  less  force  required  to  fell  an  oak. 

He  gazed  with  wonder  on  their  equal  might, 

Looked  eager  on,  but  knew  not  either  knight. 

Resolved  to  learn,  he  spurred  his  fiery  steed 

With  goring  rowels  to  provoke  his  speed.  &50 

The  minute  ended  that  began  the  race, 

So  soon  he  was  betwixt  them  on  the  place; 

And  with  his  sword  unsheathed,  on  pain  of  life 

Commands  both  combatants  to  cease  their  strife; 

Then  with  imperious  tone  pursues  his  threat :  865 

"What  are  you?  why  in  arms  together  met? 

How  dares  your  pride  presume  against  my  laws, 

As  in  a  listed  field  to  fight  your  cause, 


S49  (834).— 

For  thider  was  the  liert  worit  have  his  flight, 
And  over  a  brook,  and  so  forth  in  his  weye. 

861  (847).- 

And  at  a  stert  he  was  bitvvix  hem  two, 
And  puilede  out  a  swerd  and  cryed,  'Ho ! 
Namore,  up  peyne1  of  Iesing2of  your  heed.' 


1  On  pain.       -Losing. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  8:j 

Unasked  the  royal  grant ;  no  marshal  by, 

§TO  As  knightly  rites  require,  nor  judge  to  try?" 
Then  Palamon,  with  scarce  recovered  breath, 
Thus  hasty  spoke:  "We  both  deserve  the  death, 
And  both  would  die ;  for  look  the  world  around, 
A  pair  so  wretched  is  not  to  be  found. 

875  Our  life's  a  load;  encumbered  with  the  charge, 
\Te  long  to  set  the  imprisoned  soul  at  large. 
Now,  as  thou  art  a  sovereign  judge,  decree 
The  rightful  doom  of  death  to  him  and  me; 
Let  neither  find  thy  grace,  for  grace  is  cruelty. 

8«o  Me  first,  0,  kill  me  first,  and  cure  my  woe; 
Then  sheath  the  sword  of  justice  on  my  foe; 
Or  kill  him  first,  for  when  his  name  is  heard, 
He  foremost  will  receive  his  due  reward. 
Arcite  of  Thebes  is  he,  thy  mortal  foe, 

sas  On  whom  thy  grace  did  liberty  bestow ; 
But  first  contracted,  that,  if  ever  found 
By  day  or  night  upon  the  Athenian  ground, 
His  head  should  pay  the  forfeit ;  see  returned 
The  perjured  knight,  his  oath  and  honour  scorned: 

890  For  this  is  he,  who,  with  a  borrowed  name 
And  proffered  service,  to  thy  palace  came, 
Now  called  Philostratus ;  retained  by  thee, 
A  traitor  trusted,  and  in  high  degree, 
Aspiring  to  the  bed  of  beauteous  Emily. 

895  My  part  remains,  from  Thebes  my  birth  I  own, 

880  (863). — Butsle  me  first,  for  seynte1  charitee; 
But  sle  my  felawe  eek  as  wel  as  me. 


'Btessed. 


84  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

And  call  myself  the  unhappy  Palamon. 

Think  me  not  like  that  man ;  since  no  disgrace 

(.'{in  force  me  to  renounce  the  honour  of  my  race. 

Know  me  for  what  I  am:  I  broke  thy  chain, 

Xor  promised  I  thy  prisoner  to  remain :  900 

The  love  of  liberty  with  life  is  given, 

And  life  itself  the  inferior  gift  of  Heaven. 

Thus  without  crime  I  fled;  but  farther  know, 

I,  with  this  Arcite,  am  thy  mortal  foe : 

Then  give  me  death,  since  I  thy  life  pursue;  905 

For  safeguard  of  thyself,  death  is  my  due. 

More  wouldst  thou  know?     I  love  bright  Emily, 

And  for  her  sake  and  in  her  sight  will  die : 

But  kill  my  rival  too,  for  he  no  less 

Deserves ;  and  I  thy  righteous  doom  will  bless,         910 

Assured  that  what  I  lose  he  never  shall  possess." 

To  this  replied  the  stern  Athenian  Prince, 

And  sourly  smiled:  "In  owning  your  offence 

You  judge  yourself,  and  I  but  keep  record 

In  place  of  law,  while  you  pronounce  the  word.     •  QIS 

Take  your  desert,  the  death  you  have  decreed; 

I  seal  your  doom,  and  ratify  the  deed: 

By  Mars,  the  patron  of  my  arms,  you  die." 

THe  said;  dumb  sorrow  seized  the  standers-by. 
he  Queen,  above  the  rest,  by  nature  good,  920 

909  (882). — But  sle  my  felawe  in  the  same  wyse, 
for  bothe  han  we  deserved  to  be  slayn. 

920  (890). — The  queneanon,  forverray  wommanhede1 
Gan  for  to  wepe,  and  so  dide  Emelye, 
And  alle  the  ladies  in  the  compaignye. 


1  Womanliness. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  85 

(The  pattern  formed  of  perfect  womanhood) 

For  tender  pity  wept :  when  she  began, 

Through  the   bright   quire  the   infectious    virtue     , 

ran.      <^  ^ 
All  dropt  their  tears,  even  the  contended  maid: 


925  And  thus  among  themselves  they  softly  said: 
"What  eyes  can  suffer  this  unworthy  sight! 
Two  youths  of  royal  blood,  renowned  in  fight, 
The  mastership  of  Heaven  in  face  and  mind, 
And  lovers,  far  beyond  their  faithless  kind : 

930  See  their    wide  streaming  wounds;    they  neither 

came 

From  pride  of  empire  nor  desire  of  fame : 
Kings  fight  for  kingdoms,  madmen  for  applause; 
But  love  for  love  alone,  that  crowns  the  lover's 


cause. ' 


This  thought,  which  ever  bribes  the  beauteous  kind, 
935  Such  pity  wrought  in  every  lady's  mind, 

They  left  their  steeds,  and  prostrate  on  the  place, 
From  the  fierce  King  implored  the  offenders'  grace. 

He  paused  a  while,  stood  silent  in  his  mood ; 
(For  yet  his  rage  was  baling  in  his  blood :) 
940  But  soon  his  tender  mind  the  impression  felt. 
(As  softest  metals  are  not  slow  to  melt 
And  pity  soonest  runs  in  gentle  minds :) 
Then  reasons  with  himself ;  and  first  he  finds 
His  passion  cast  a  mist  before  his  sense, 
945  And  either  made,  or  magnified  the  offence. 

Offence !     Of  what?     To  whom?    Who  judged  the 
cause? 


8<i  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

The  prisoner  freed  himself  by  Nature's  laws; 
Born  free,  he  sought  his  right;  the  man  he  freed 
Was  perjured,  but  his  love  excused  the  deed : 
Thus  pondering,  he  looked  under  with  his  eyes,        9&o 
And  saw  the  women's  tears,  and  heard  their  cries, 
Which  moyed  compassion  more;  he  shook  his  head, 
And  softly  sighing  to  himself  he  said : 

4 'Curse  on  the  unpardoning  prince,  whom  tears 

can  draw 

To  no  remorse,  who  rules  by  lion's  law;  95* 

And  deaf  to  prayers,  by  no  submission  bowed, 
Rends  all  alike,  the  penitent  and  proud!" 
At  this  with  look  serene  he  raised  his  head ; 
Reason  resumed  her  place,  and  passion  fled : 
Then  thus  aloud  he  spoke: — "The  power  of  Love,  wo 
In  earth,  aqd  seas,  and  air,  and  heaven  above, 
Rules,  unresisted,  with  an  awful  nod, 
By  daily  miracles  declared  a  god ; 
He  blinds  the  wise,  gives  eye-sight  to  the  blind ; 
And  moulds  and  stamps  anew  the  lover's  mind.        965 
Beli old  that  Arcite,  and  this  Palamon, 
Freed  from  my  fetters,  and  in  safety  gone. 
What  hindered  either  in  their  native  soil 


L.  953  (914).— 

And  in  his  gentil  herte  he  thoglite  auooii, 
And  softe  uii-to  himself  he  seyde :  'Fy 
Up-on  a  lord  that  wol  have  no  mercy, 
But  been  a  leoun, l  bothe  in  word  and  clede, ' 

960  (927).— The  god  of  love,  a!  benedicite, 

How  mighty  and  how  greet  a  lor  I  is  lief 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  8? 

At  ease  to  reap  the  harvest  of  their  toil? 

970  But  Love,  their  lord,  did  otherwise  ordain, 
And  brought  them,  in  their  own  despite  again, 
To  suff er  death  deserved ;  for  well  they  know 
'Tis  in  my  power,  and  I  their  deadly  foe. 
The  proverb  holds,  that  to  be  wise  and  love, 

975  Is  hardly  granted  to  the  gods  above. 

See  how  the  madmen  bleed !     Behold  the  gains 
With  which  their  master,  Love,  rewards  their  pains ! 
For  seven  long  years,  on  duty  every  day, 
Lo!  their  obedience,  and  their  monarch's  pay  I 

980  Yet,  as  in  duty  bound,  they  serve  him  on ; 
And  ask  the  fools,  they  think  it  wisely  done; 
Nor  ease  nor  wealth  nor  life  itself  regard, 
For  'tis  their  maxim,  love  is  love's  reward. 
This  is  not  all ;  the  fair,  for  whom  they  strove, 

sso  Nor  knew  before,  nor  could  suspect  their  love, 
Nor  thought,  when  she  beheld  the  fight  from  far, 
Her  beauty  was  the  occasion  of  the  war. 
But  sure  a  general  doom  on  man  is  past, 
And  all  are  fools  and  lovers,  first  or  last : 

990  This  both  by  others  and  jtnyself  I  know, 
For  I  have  served  their  sovereign  long  ago ; 
Oft  have  been  caught  within  the  winding  train 
Of  female  snares,  and  felt  the  lover's  pain, 
And  learned  how  far  the  god  can  human  hearts 
constrain. 

974  (940).— Now  loketh,1  is  nat  that  an  heigh  folye? 
Who  may  nat  ben  a  fool,  if  that  he  love? 


88  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

To  this  remembrance,  and  the  prayers  of  those         995 

Who  for  the  offending  warriors  interpose, 

I  give  their  forfeit  lives,  on  this  accord, 

To  do  me  homage  as  their  sovereign  lord ; 

And  as  my  vassals,  to  their  utmost  might, 

Assist  my  person  and  assert  my  right."  1000 

This  freely  sworn,  the  knights  their  grace  obtained  ; 

Then  thus  the  king  his  secret  thought  explained : 

"If  wealth  or  honour  or  a  royal  race, 

Or  each  or  all,  may  win  a  lady's  grace, 

Then  either  of  you  knights  may  well  deserve  iocs 

A  princess  born ;  and  such  is  she  you  serve : 

For  Emily  is  sister  to  the  crown, 

And  but  too  well  to  both  her  beauty  known : 

But  should  you  combat  till  you  both  were  dead, 

Two  lovers  cannot  share  a  single  bed.  1010 

As,  therefore,  both  are  equal  in  degree, 

The  lot  of  both  be  left  to  destiny. 

Now  hear  the  award,  and  happy  may  it  prove 

To  her,  and  him  who  best  deserves  her  love. 

Depart  from  hence  in  peace,  and  free  as  air,  1015 

Search   the   wide   world,  and    where    you   please 

repair ; 

But  on  the  day  when  this  returning  sun 
To  the  same  point  through  every  sign  has  run, 
Then  each  of  you  his  hundred  knights  shall  bring, 
In  royal  lists,  to  fight  before  the  king ;  1020 

And  then  the  knight,  whom  Fate  or  happy  Chance 
Shall  with  his  friends  to  victory  advance, 
And  grace  his  arms  so  far  in  equal  fight, 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  89 

From  out  the  bars  to  force  his  opposite, 
1025  Or  kill,  or  make  him  recreant  on  the  plain, 
The  prize  of  valour  and  of  love  shall  gain ; 
The  vanquished  party  shall  their  claim  release, 
And  the  long  jars  conclude  in  lasting  peace. 
The    charge     be     mine     to     adorn    the     chosen 

ground, 

1030  The  theatre  of  war,  for  champions  so  renowned; 
And  take  the  patron's  place  of  either  knight, 
With  eyes  impartial  to  behold  the  fight ; 
And    Heaven   of  me   so   judge  as  I   shall   judge 

aright. 

If  both  are  satisfied  with  this  accord, 
toss  Swear  by  the  laws  of  knighthood  on  my  sword. " 

Who  now  but  Palamon  exults  with  joy? 
And  ravished  Arcite  seems  to  touch  the  sky. 
.The  whole  assembled  troop  was  pleased  as  well, 
Extolled  the  award,  and  on  their  knees  they  fell 
1040  To  bless  the  gracious   King.     The  knights,  with 

leave 
Departing   from   the    pld!ce,    his    last    commands 

receive ; 

On  Emily  with  equal  ardour  look, 
And  from  her  eyes  their  inspiration  took : 
From  thence  to   Thebes'  old   walls   pursue  their 

way, 
1045  Each  to  provide  his  champions  for  the  day. 

It  might  be  deemed,  on  our  historian's  part, 
Or  too  much  negligence  or  want  of  art, 
If  he  forgot  the  vast  magnificence 


IK)  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Of  royal  Theseus,  and  his  large  expense. 

He  first  enclosed  for  lists  a  level  ground,  JOM 

The  whole  circumference  a  niile  around; 

The  form  was  circular ;  and  all  without 

A  trench  was  sunk,  to  moat  the  place  about. 

Within,  an  amphitheatre  appeared, 

Eaised  in  degrees,  to  sixty  paces  reared:  1055 

That  when  a  man  was  placed  in  one  degree, 

Height  was  allowed  for  him  above  to  see. 

Eastward  was  built  a  gate  of  marble  white ; 
The  like  adorned  the  western  opposite. 
A  nobler  object  than  this  fabric  was  ioeo 

Rome  never  saw,  nor  of  so  vast  a  space  : 
For,  rich  yith  spoils  of  many  a  conquered  land, 
All  arts  and  artists  Theseus  could  command, 
Who  sold  for  hire,  or  wrought  for  better  fame; 
The  master-painters  and  the  carvers  came.  K«5 

So  rose  within  the  compass  of  the  ^ear 
An  age's  work,  a  glorious  theatre. 
Then  o'er  its  eastern  gate  was  raised  above 
A  temple,  sacred  to  the  Queen  of  Love; 
An  altar  stood  below :  on  either  hand  iwo 

A  priest  with  roses  crowned,  who  held  a  myrtle 
wand. 

1049  (1027).— 

That  swich  a  noble  theatre  as  it  was, 

I  dar  wel  seyn  that  in  this  world  ther  nas. l 

1056  (1033). — That  whan  a  man  was  set  on  o2  degree, 
He  lette3  nat  his  felawe  for  to  see. 


1  Was  not.       2On3.       'Hindered. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  91 

The  dome  of  Mars  was  on  the  gate  opposed, 
And  on  the  north  a  turret  was  enclosed 
Within  the  wall  of  alabaster  white 
And  crimson  coral,  for  the  Queen  of  Night, 
Who  takes  in  sylvan  sports  her  chaste  delight. 

Within  these  oratori^Tmight  you  see 
Rich  carvings,  portraitures,  and  imagery  : 
Where  every  figure  to  the  life  expressed 
The  godhead's  power  to  whom  it  was  addressed: 
In  Venus'  temple  on  the  sides  were  seen 
The  broken  slumbers  of  enamoured  men ; 
Prayers  that  even  spoke,  and  pity  seemed  to  call, 
And  issuing  sighs  that  smoked  along  the  wall ; 
Complaints  and  hot  desires,  the  lover's  hell, 
And  scalding  tears  that  wore  a  channel  where  they 

fell; 

And  all  around  were  nuptial  bonds,  the  ties 
Of  love's  assurance,  and  a  train  of  lies, 
That,  made  in  lust,  conclude  in  perjuries; 

looo  Beauty,  and  Youth,  and 'wealth,  and  Luxury, 
And  sprightly  Hope,  and  short-enduring  Joy, 
And  Sorceries  to  raise  the  infernal  powers, 
And  Sigils  framed  in  planetary  hours ; 
Expense,  and  After -thought,  and  idle  Care, 

1095  And  Doubts  of  motley  hue,  and  dark  Despair ; 
Suspicions  and  fantastical  Surmise, 
And  Jealousy  suffused,  with  jaundice  in  her  eyes, 
Discolouring  all  she  viewed,  in  tawny  dressed, 
Down-looked,  and  with  a  cuckow  on  her  fist. 

1100  Opposed  to  her,  on  the  other  side  advance 


92  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

The  costly  feast,  the  carol,  and  the  dance, 

Minstrels  and  music,  poetry  and  play, 

And  balls  by  night,  and  turnaments  by  day. 

All  these  were  painted  on  the  wall,  and  more ; 

With  acts  and  monuments  of  times  before;  nos 

And  others  added  by  prophetic  doom, 

And  lovers  yet  unborn,  and  loves  to  come : 

For  there  the  Idalian  mount,  and  Citheron, 

The  court  of  Yenjis,  was  in  colours  drawn; 

Before  the  palace  gate,  in  careless  dress  mo 

And  loose  array,  sat  portress  Idleness ; 

There  by  the  fount  Narcissus  pined  alone; 

There  Samson  was ;  with  wiser  Solomon, 

And  all  the  mighty  names  by  love  undone. 

Medea's  charms  were  there,  Circeaii  feasts,  ms 

With  bowls  that  turned  enamoured  youths  to  beasts. 

Here  might  be  seen,  that  beauty,  wealth,  and  wit, 

And  prowess  to  the  power  of  love  submit ; 

The  spreading  snare  for  all  mankind  is  laid, 

And  lovers  all  betray,  and  are  betrayed.  1120 

The  Goddess '  self  some  noble  hand  had  wrought ; 

Smiling  she  seemed,  and  full  of  pleasing  thought, 

From  ocean  as  she  first  began  to  rise, 

And  smoothed  the  ruffled  seas,  and  cleared  the  skies, 

A  lute  she  held ;  and  on  her  head  was  seen 

1119  (1093).— 

Lo,  alle  thise  folk  so  caught  were  in  hir  las,1 
Til  they  for  wo  ful  ofte  seyde  "alias." 


PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE  l»:J 

A  wreath  of  roses  red  and  myrtles  green ; 
Her  turtles  fanned  the  buxom  air  above ; 

1130  And  by  his  mother  stood  an  infant  Love, 

With  wings  unfledged;  his  eyes  were  banded  o'er, 
His  hands  a  bow,  his  back  a  quiver  bore,    . 
Supplied  with  arrows  bright  and  keen,  a  deadly 

store. 
But  in  the  dome  of  mighty  Mars  the  red 

ii35  With  cliff er entf figures~all  the  sides  were  spread; 
This  temple,  less  in  form,  with  equal  grace, 
Was  imitative  of  the  first  in  Thrace ; 
For  that  cold  region  was  the  loved  abode 
And  sovereign  mansion  of  the  warrior  god. 

ii4o  The  landscape  was  a  forest  wide  and  bare, 
Where  neither  beast  nor  human  kind  repair, 
The  fowl  that  scent  afar  the  borders  fly, 
And  shun  the  bitter  blast,  and  wheel  about  the  sky. 
A  cake  of  scurf  lies  baking  on  the  ground, 

114.=)  And  prickly  stubs,  instead  of  trees,  are  found; 
Or  woods  with  knots  and  knares  deformed  and  old, 
Headless  the  most,  and  hideous  to  behold. 
A  rattling  tempest  through  the  branches  went, 
That  stripped  them  bare,  and  one  sole  way  they  bent. 

USD  Heaven  froze  above  severe,  the  clouds  congeal, 
And  through  the  crystal  vault  appeared  the  stand- 
ing hail. 

Such  was  the  face  without :  a  mountain  stood 
Threatening  from  high,  and  overlooked  the  wood: 

1148  (1122).— 

As  though  a  storm  scholde  bresteu.  every  bough: 


1»4  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Beneath  the  lowering  brow,  and  on  a  bent, 

The  temple  stood  of  Mars  iirmipotent :  1155 

The  frame  of  burnished  steel/that  cast  a  glare 

From  far,  and  seemed  to  thaw  the  freezing  air. 

A  straight  long  entry  to  the  temple  led, 

Blind  with  high  walls,  and  horror  over  head; 

1  'hence  issued  such  a  blast,  and  hollow  roar,  1100 

As  threatened  from  the  hinge  to  heave  the  door ; 

In  through  that  door  a  northern  light  there  shone ; 

'Twas  all  it  had,  for  windows  there  were  none. 

The  gate  was  adamant ;  eternal  frame, 

Which,  hewed    by    Mars    himself,    from    Indian  ncs 

quarries  came, 

The  labour  of  a  God ;  and  all  along 
Tough  iron  plates  were  clenched  to  make  it  strong. 
A  tun  about  was  every  pillar  there; 
A  polished  mirror  shone  not  half  so  clear. 
1  'here  saw  I  how  the  secret  felon  wrought,  n:o 

And  treason  labouring  in  the  traitor's  thought. 

There  the  red  Anger  dared  the  pallid  Fear ; 

Next  stood  Hypocrisy,  with  holy  leer, 

Soft,  smiling^  $nd  demurely  looking  down,  «?5 

But  hid  the  dagger  underneath  the  gown ; 

The  assassinating  wife,  the  household  fiend; 

And  far  the  blackest  there,  the  traitor -friend. 

On  the  .other  side  there  stood  Destruction  bare, 

Unpunished  Rapine,  and  a  waste  of  war;  nso 

1174  (1141).— One  line  in  Chaucer: 

The  smyler  with  the  knyf  under  the  cloke. 


PALAjlON  AND  ARCITE  05 

Contest,  with  sharpened  knives,  in  cloisters  drawn, 
And  all  with  blood  bespread  the  holy  lawn. 
Loud  menaces  were  heard,  and  foul  disgrace, 
And  brawling  infamy,  in  language  base  ; 
ii85  Till  sense  was  lost  in  sound,  and  silence  fled  the 

place. 
The  slayer  of  himself  yet  saw 


The  gore  congealed  was  clottered  in  his  hair  ; 
With  eyes  half  closed,  and  gaping  mouth  he  lay, 
And  grim  as   when    he  breathed  his  sullen  soul 

away. 

In  midst  of  all  the  dome  Misfortune  sate, 
And  gloomy  Discontent,  and  fell  Debate, 
And  Madness  lauglmig  in  his  ireful  mood; 
And  armed  Complaint  on  theft  ;  and  cries  of  blood. 
There  was  the  murdered  corps,  in  covert  laid, 

1195  And  violent  death  in  thousand  shapes  displayed: 
The  city  to  the  soldier's  rage  resigned  : 
Successless  wars,  and  poverty  behind: 
Ships  burnt  in  fight,  or  forced  on  rocky  shores, 
And  the  rash  hunter  strangled  by  the  boars  : 

1200  The  new-born  babe  by  nurses  overlaid  ; 

And  the  cook   caught  within  the  raging  fire  he 

made. 

All  ills  of  Mars  his  nature,  flame  and  steel  ; 
The  gasping  charioteer  beneath  the  wheel 

1186  (1147).— 

The  sleere  of  himself  yet  saugh  I  ther, 
His  herte-blood  hath  bathed  al  his  heer.1 

'Hair. 


06  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Of  his  own  car ;  the  ruined  house  that  falls 

And  intercepts  her  lord  betwixt  the  walls :  1205 

The  whole  division  that  to  Mars  pertains, 

All  trades  of  death  that  deal  in  steel  for  gains 

Were  there:  the  butcher,  armourer,  and  smith, 

Who  forges  sharpened  fauchions,  or  the  scythe. 

The  scarlet  conquest  on  a  tower  was  placed,  1210 

With  shouts  and  soldiers'  acclamations  graced: 

A  pointed  sword  hung  threatening  o'er  his  head, 

Sustained  but  by  a  slender  twine  of  thread. 

There  saw  I  Mars  his  ides,  the  Capitol, 

The  seer  in  vain  foretelling  Caesar's  fall;  1215 

The  last  Triumvirs,  and  the  wars  they  move, 

And  Antony,  who  lost  the  world  for  love. 

These,  and  a  thousand  more,  the  fane  adorn ; 

Their  fates  were  painted  ere  the  men  were  born, 

All  copied  from  the  heavens,  and  ruling  force  12;2° 

Of  the  red  star,  in  his  revolving  course. 

The  form  of  Mars  high  on  a  chariot  stood, 

All  sheathed  in  arms,  and  gruffly  looked  the  god: 

Two  geomantic  figures  were  displayed 

Above  his  head,  a  warrior  and  a  maid,  12J:> 

1*214  ''1.178). — Depeynted  was  the  slauglitre  of  lulius, 
Of  grete  Nero,  and  of  Antonius. 

1222  (1183). 

The  statue  of  Mars  upon  a  carte  stood, 
Armed,  and  loked  grim  as  he  were  wood ; 
And  over  his  heed  ther  shynen  two  figures 
Of  sterres,  that  been  cleped1  in  scriptures,2 
That  oon  Puella,  that  other  Rubeus. 


'Called.       2Any  important  writings;  here,  books  on  astrology. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  07 

• 

One  when  direct,  and  one  when  retrograde. 

Tired  with  deformities  of  death,  I  haste 
To  the  third  temple  of  Diana_chast.e._, 
A  sylvan  scene  with  various  greens  was  drawn, 

1230  Shades  on  the  sides,  and  on  the  midst  a  lawn; 
The  silver  Cynthia,  with  her  nymphs  around, 
Pursued   the   flying   deer,  the   woods   with   horns 

resound: 

Calisto  there  stood  manifest  of  shame, 
And,  turned  a  bear,  the  northern  star  became: 

1235  Her  son  was  next,  and,  by  peculiar  grace, 
In  the  cold  circle  held  the  second  place : 
The  stag  Actaeon  in  the  stream  had  spied 
The  naked  huntress,  and  for  seeing  died : 
His  hounds,  unknowing  of  his  change,  pursue 

1240  The  chase,  and  their  mistaken  master  slew. 
Peneian  Daphne  too  was  there  to  see, 
Apollo's  love  before,  and  now  his  tree. 
The  adjoining  fane  the  assembled  Greeks  expressed, 
And  hunting  of  the  Calydonian  beast. 

1245  (Enides'  valour,  and  his  envied  prize; 
The  fatal  power  of  Atalanta's  eyes ; 
Diana's  vengeance  on  the  victor  shown, 
The  murderess  mother,  and  consuming  son; 
The  Yolscian  queen  extended  on  the  plain, 

1250  The  treason  punished,  and  the  traitor  slain. 
The  rest  were  various  huntings,  well  designed, 
And  savage  beasts  destroyed,  of  every  kind. 
The  graceful  goddess  was  arrayed  in  green ; 
About  her  feet  were  little  beagles  seen, 


US  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

That  watched  with   upward  eyes  the  motions   of  r:»5 

their  Queen. 

Her  legs  were  buskined,  and  the  left  before, 
In  act  to  shoot ;  a  silver  bow  she  bore, 
And  at  her  back  a  painted  quiver  wore. 
She  trod  a  wexing  moon,  that  soon  would  wane, 
And,  drinking  borrowed  light,  be  filled  again;          isso 
With  downcast  eyes,  as  seeming  to  survey 
The  dark  dominions,  her  alternate  sway. 

Theseus  beheld  the  fanes  of  every  god, 

And  thought  his  mighty  cost  was  well  bestowed.       1270 
\  So  princes  now  their  poets  should  regard ; 
5  But  few  can  write,  and  fewer  can  reward. 
The  theatre  thus  raised,  the  lists  enclosed, 

And  all  with  vast  magnificence  disposed, 

We  leave  the  monarch  pleased,  and  haste  to  bring  1275 

The  knights  to  combat,  and  their  arms  to  sing. 


BOOK   III 

The  day  approached  when  Fortune  should  decide 
The  important  enterprise,  and  give  the  bride ; 
For  now  the  rivals  round  the  world  had  sought, 

1280  And  each  his  number,  well  appointed,  brought. 
The  nations  far  and  near  contend  in  choice, 
And  send  the  flower  of  war  by  public  voice ; 
That  after  or  before  were  never  known 
Such  chiefs,  as  each  an  army  seemed  alone : 

1285  Beside  the  champions,  all  of  high  degree, 

Who  knighthood  loved,  and  deeds  of  chivalry, 
;  Thronged  to  the  lists,  and  envied  to  behold 
The  names  of  others,  not  their  own,  enrolled. 
Nor  seems  it  strange;  for  every  noble  knight 

1283-1297  (1248-1258).— The  passage  in  Chaucer  is  two 
lines  shorter,  and  less  fulsome  in  praise  of  England : 
For  every  wight  that  loved  chivalrye, 
And  wolde,  his  thankes, l  han  a  passant2  name, 
Hath  preyed  that  he  mighte  ben  of  that  game ; 
And  wel  was  him,  that  ther-to  chosen  was. 
For  if  ther  fille  to-morwe  swich  a  cas, 
Ye  knowen  wel.  that  every  lusty  knight, 
That  loveth  paramours,3  and  hath  his  might, 
Were  it  in  Engelond,  or  elles- where, 
They  wolde,  hir  thankes,1  wilnen  to  be  there. 
To  fighte  for  a  lady,  benedidte! 
It  were  a  lusty  sighte  for  to  see. 

'Thankes  is  an  old  genitive  used  idiomatically  and  meaning  he  or 
they  being  willing;  it  means  scarcely  more  than  willingly  or  gladly. 
2  Surpassing.  3Lovers. 

99 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

x 

Who  loves  the  fair,  and  is  endued  with  might,          1290 

In  such  a  quarrel  would  be  proud  to  fight. 

There  breathes  not  scarce  a  man  on  British  ground 

(An  isle  for  love  and  arms  of  old  renowned) 

But  would  have  sold  his  life  to  purchase  fame, 

To  Palamon  or  Ascifce  sent  his  name;  1295 

And  had  the  land  selected  of  the  best, 

Half  had  come  hence,  and  let  the  world  provide 

the  rest. 

A  hundred  knights  with  Palamon  there  came, 
Approved  in  fight,  and  men  of  mighty  name; 
Their  arms  were  several,  as  their  nations  were,          ISOD 
But  furnished  all  alike  with  sword  and  spear. 
Some  wore  coat-armour,  imitating  scale ; 
And  next  their  skins  were  stubborn  shirts  of  mail. 
Some  wore  a  breastplate  and  a  light  juppon, 
Their  horses  clothed  with  rich  caparison ;  isos 

Some  for  defence  would  leathern  bucklers  use 
Of  folded  hides,  and  others  shields  of  Pruce. 
One  hung  a  pole-axe  at  his  saddle-bow, 
And  one  a  heavy  mace  to  stun  the  foe ; 
One  for  his  legs  and  knees  provided  well,  1310 

With  jambeux  armed,  and  double  plates  of  steel ; 
This  on  his  helmet  wore  a  lady's  glove, 
And  that  a  sleeve  embroidered  by  his  love. 

With  Palamon  above  the  rest  in  place, 
Lycurgus  came,  the  surly  king  of  Thrace;  isis 

Black  was  his  beard,  and  manly  was  his  face; 
The  balls  of  his  broad  eyes  rolled  in  his  head, 
And  glared  betwixt  a  yellow  and  a  red ; 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  101 

He  looked  a  lion  with  a  gloomy  stare, 
1380  And  o'er  his  eyebrows  hung  his  matted  hair; 

Big-boned,  and  large  of  limbs,  with  sinews  strong, 

Inroad-shouldered,  and  his  arms  were  round  and 
long. 

Four  milk-white  bulls  (the  Thracian  use  of  old) 

Were  yoked  to  draw  his  car  of  burnished  gold. 
1325  Upright  he  stood,  and  bore  aloft  his  shield, 

Conspicuous  from  afar,  and  overlooked  the  field. 

His  surcoat  was  a  bear-skin  on  his  back ; 

His  hair  hung  long  behind,  and  glossy  raven-black. 

His  ample  forehead  bore  a  coronet, 
1330  \Vith  sparkling  diamonds  and  with  rubies  set. 

Ten  brace,  and  more,  of  greyhounds,  snowy  fair, 

And  tall  as  stags,  ran  loose,  and  coursed  around 
his  chair, 

A  match  for  pards  in  flight,  in  grappling  for  the 
bear ; 

With  golden  muzzles  all  their  mouths  were  bound, 
1335  And  collars  of  the  same  their  necks  surround. 

Thus  through  the  fields  Lycurgus  took  his  way ; 

His  hundred  knights  attend  in  pomp  and  proud 

array. 
To  match  this  monarch,  with  strong  Arcite  came 

Emetrius,  king  of  Inde,  a  mighty  name, 
1340  On  a  bay  courser,  goodly  to  behold, 

The  trappings  of  his  horse  embossed  with  barbarous 
gold. 

Not  Mars  bestrode  a  steed  with  greater  grace ; 

His  surcoat  o'er  his  arms  was  cloth  of  Thrace, 


103  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Adorned  with  pearls,  all  orient,  round,  and  great; 

His  saddle  was  of  gold,  with  emeralds  set ;  J3*s 

His  shoulders  large  a  mantle  did  attire, 

With  rubies  thick,  and  sparkling  as  the  fire; 

His  amber-coloured  locks  in  ringlets  run, 

With  graceful  negligence,  and  shone  against  the 

sun. 

His  nose  was  aquiline,  his  eyes  were  blue,  1350 

Buddy  his  lips,  and  fresh  and  fair  his  hue; 
Some  sprinkled  freckles  on  his  face  were  seen, 
Whose  dusk  set  off  the  whiteness  of  the  skin. 
His  awful  presence  did  the  crowd  surprise, 
Kor  durst  the  rash  spectator  meet  his  eyes ;  135& 

Eyes  that  confessed  him  born  for  kingly  sway, 
So  fierce,  they  flashed  intolerable  day. 
His  age  in  nature's  youthful  prime  appeared, 
And  just  began  to  bloom  his  yellow  beard. 
Whene'er  he  spoke,  his  voice  was  heard  around,       m! 
Loud  as  a  trumpet,  with  a  silver  sound; 
A  laurel  wreathed  his  temples,  fresh,  and  green, 
And  myrtle  sprigs,  the  marks  of  love,  were  mixed 

between. 

Upon  his  fist  he  bore,  for  his  delight, 
An  eagle  well  reclaimed,  and  lily  white. 

1348  (130?).— 

His  crispe  heer  lyk  ringes  was  y-ronne,1 

And  that  was  yelow,  and  glitered  as  the  soune. 

1354  (1313). — Chaucer  has  only  one  line: 
And  as  a  leoun  he  his  loking  caste. 

1359  (1314).— Of  fyve  and  twenty  yeer  his  age  I  caste. 


'Clustered,  curled. 


PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE  103 

His  hundred  knights  attend  him  to  the  war, 

All  armed  for  battle;  save  their  heads  were  bare. 

Words  and  devices  blazed  on  every  shield, 

And  pleasing  was  the  terror  of  the  field. 
1370  For  kings,  and  dukes,  and  barons  you  might  see, 

Like  sparkling  stars,  though  different  in  degree, 

All  for  the  increase  of  arms,  and  love  of  chivalry. 

Before  the  king  tame  leopards  led  the  way, 

And  troops  of  lions  innocently  play. 
1375  So  Bacchus  through  the  conquered  Indies  rode, 

And  beasts  in  gambols  frisked  before  their  honest 

god. 
In  this  array  the  war  of  either  side 

Through  Athens  passed  with  military  pride. 

At  prime,  they  entered  on  the  Sunday  morn ; 
issc  Rich  tapestry  spread  the  streets,  and  flowers  the 
posts  adorn. 

The  town  was  all  a  jubilee  of  feasts ; 

So  Theseus  willed  in  honour  of  his  guests : 

Himself  with  open  arms  the  kings  embraced, 

Then  all  the  rest  in  their  degrees  were  graced. 
13S5  Xo  harbinger  was  needful  for  the  night, 

For  every  house  was  proud  to  lodge  a  knight, 
I  pass  the  royal  treat,  nor  must  relate 

The  gifts  bestowed,  nor  how  the  champions  sate; . 

Who  first,  who  last,  or  how  the  knights  addressed 
1390  Their  vows,  or  who  was  fairest  at  the  feast; 

Whose  voice,  whose  graceful  dance  did  most  sur- 
prise, 

Soft  amorous  sighs,  and  silent  love  of  eyes. 


104:  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

The  rivals  call  my  Muse  another  way, 
To  sing  their  vigils  for  the  ensuing  day. 

'Twas  ebbing  darkness,  past  the  noon  of  night: 
And  Phosphor,  on  the  confines  of  the  light, 
Promised  the  sun;  ere  day  began  to  spring, 
The  tuneful  lark  already  stretched  her  wing, 
And  flickering  on  her  nest,  made  short  essays  to  sing, 
When  wakeful  Palamon,  preventing  day,  1400 

Took  to  the  royal  lists  his  early  way, 
To  Venus  at  her  fane,  in  her  own  house,  to  pray. 
There,  falling  on  his  knees  before  her  shrine, 
lie  thus  implored  with  prayers  her  power  divine: 
"Creator  Venus,  genial  power  of  love,  HOS 

— L 

1395-1404  (1351-1362).— Chaucer  has  twelve  lines  to 

Dry  den's  ten : 

The  Sonday  night,  er1  day  bigan  to  springe, 
When  Palamon  the  larke  herde  singe, 
Although  it  nere  nat2  day  by  houres  two, 
Yet  song  the  larke,  and  Palamon  also. 
With  holy  herte,  and  with  an  heigh  corage 
He  roos,3  to  wenden  on  his  pilgrimage 
Un-to  the  blisf ul  Citherea  benygne, 
I  mene  Venus,  honurable  and  dygne. 4 
And  in  hir  houre  he  walketh  forth  a  pas 
Un-to  the  listes,  ther5  hir  temple  was, 
And  doun  he  kneleth,  and  with  humble  chere 
And  herte  soor,  he  seide  as  ye  shul6  here. 
1405  ( 1363) .  — Chaucer's  invocation  is  much  shorter : 

'Faireste  of  faire,  o  lady  myn  Venus, 
Doughter  to  love,  and  spouse  of  Vulcanus, 
Thou  gladere  of  the  mount  of  Citheroun 
For  thilke7  love  thou  haddest  to  Adoun,8 
Have  pitee  of  my  bittre  teres  smerte, 
And  tak  myn  humble  preyere  at  thin  herte. 

'Ere.        a Double  negative;  it  was  not  day.        3Kose.        4 Latin 
dignus;  worthy.       6 Where.       "Shall.       7That.       "Adonis. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  •    105 

The  bliss  of  men  below,  and  gods  above ! 

Beneath  the  sliding  sun  thou  runst  thy  race, 

Dost  fairest  shine,  and  best  become  thy  place. 

For  thee  the  winds  their  eastern  blasts  forbear, 
i4io  Thy  month  reveals  the  spring,  and  opens  all  the  year. 

Thee,  Goddess,  thee  the  storms  of  winter  fly; 

Earth  smiles  with  flowers  renewing,  laughs  the  sky, 

And  birds  to  lays  of  love  their  tuneful  notes  apply. 

'Tis  thine,  whate'er  is  pleasant,  good,  or  fair; 
HIS  All  nature  is  thy  province,  life  thy  care; 

Thou  madest  the  world,  and  dost  the  world  repair. 

Thou  gladder  of  the  mount  of  Cyt heron, 

Increase  of  Jove,  companion  of  the  Sun, 

If  e'er  Adonis  touched  thy  tender  heart, 
1420  Have  pity,  Goddess,  for  thou  knowest  the  smart! 

Alas !  I  have  not  words  to  tell  my  grief ; 

To  vent  my  sorrow  would  be  some  relief ; 

Light  sufferings  give  us  leisure  to  complain ; 

We  groan,  but  cannot  speak,  in  greater  pain. 
1425  0  Goddess,  tell  thyself  what  I  would  say"! 

Thou  knowest  it,  and  I  feel  too  much  to  pray. 

So  grant  my  suit,  as  I  enforce  my  might, 

In  love  to  be  thy  champion  and  thy  knight, 

A  servant  to  thy  sex,  a  slave  to  thee, 
nso  A  foe  professed  to  barren  chastity: 

Xor  ask  I  fame  or  honour  of  the  field, 

Xor  choose  I  more  to  vanquish  than  to  yield : 

In  my  divine  T^Tm'Ija,  ma.kp  m^  blest, 

Let  Fate  or  partial  Chance  dispose  the  rest : 
1435  Find  thou  the  manner,  and  the  means  prepare; 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Possession,  more  than  conquest,  is  my  care. 

Mars  is  the  warrior's  god;  in  him  it  lies 

On  whom  he  favours  to  confer  the  prize; 

With  smiling  aspect  you  serenely  move 

In  your  fifth  orb,  and  rule  the  realm  of  love.  1440 

The  Fates  but  only  spin  the  coarser  clue, 

The  finest  of  the  wool  is  left  for  you : 

Spare  me  but  one  small  portion  of  the  twine, 

And  let  the  Sisters  cut  below  your  line: 

The  rest  among  the  rubbish  may  they  sweep,  1445 

.Or  add  it  to  the  yarn  of  some  old  miser's  heap, 

lint  if  you  this  ambitious  prayer  deny," 

(A  wish,  I  grant,  beyond  mortality,) 

Then  let  me  sink  beneath  proud  Arcite's  arms,  < 

And,  I  once  dead,  let  him  possess  her  charms."      1450 

Thus  ended  he ;  then,  with  observance  due, 
The  sacred  incense  on  her  altar  threw : 
The  curling  smoke  mounts  heavy  from  the  fires ; 
At  length  it  catches  flame,  and  in  a  blaze  expires ; 
At  once  the  gracious  Goddess  gave  the  sign,  1455 

Her  statue  shook,  and  trembled  all  the  shrine: 
Pleased  Palamon  the  tardy  omen  took ; 
For  since  the  flames  pursued  the  trailing  smoke, 
He  knew  his  boon  was  granted,  but  the  day 
To  distance  driven,  and  joy  adjourned  with  long 
delay. 

Now  morn  with  rosy  light  had  streaked  the  sky, 
Up  rose  the  sun,  and  up  rose  Emily; 

1450  (1402). — Chaucer  ends  the  prayer  with  the  line 
Yif  me  my  love,  thou  blisful  lady  dere. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  107 

Addressed  her  early  steps  to  Cynthia's  fane, 
In  state  attended  by  her  maiden  train, 

H65  Who  bore  the  vests  that  holy  rites  require, 
Incense,  and  odorous  gums,  and  covered  fire. 
The  plenteous  horns  with  pleasant  mead  they  crown 
Nor  wanted  aught  besides  in  honour  of  the  Moon. 
Now,  while  the  temple  smoked  with  hallowed  steam, 

1470  They  wash  the  virgin  in  a  living  stream ; 

Her  shining  hair,  uncombed,  was  loosely  spread, 
1480  A  crown  of  mastless  oak  adorned  her  head : 

When  to  the  shrine  approached,  the  spotless  maid 

Had  kindling  fires  on  either  altar  laid ; 

(The  rites  were  such  as  were  observed  of  old, 

By  Statins  in  his  Theban  story  told.) 
1485  Then  kneeling  with  her  hands  across  her  breast, 

Thus  lowly  she  preferred  her  chaste  request. 
"0  Goddess,  haunter  of  the  woodland  green, 

To  whom  both  heaven  and  earth  and  seas  are  seen; 

Queen  of  the  nether  skies,  where  half  the  year 
MOO  Thy  silver  beams  descend,  and  light  the  gloomy 
sphere ; 

Goddess  of  maids,  and  conscious  of  our  hearts, 

So  keep  me  from  the  vengeance  of  thy  darts, 

(Which  Mobe's  devoted  issue  felt, 

When   hissing  through    the    skies   the   feathered 
deaths  were  dealt,) 

1463  (1416). — Notice  the  much  greater  simplicity  of 
Chaucer's  line : 

And  to  the  temple  of  Diane  gan  hye. 


JOS  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

As  I  desire  to  live  a  virgin  life,  uw 

Nor  know  the  name  of  mother  or  of  wife. 

Thy  votress  from  my  tender  years  I  am, 

And  love,  like  thee,  the  woods  and  sylvan  game. 

Like  death,  thoti  knowest,  I  loathe    the  nuptial 

state. 

And  man,  the  tyrant  of  our  sex,  I  hate,  isoo 

A  lowly  servant,  but  a  lofty  mate; 

Now  by  thy  triple  shape,  as  thou  art  seen 

In  heaven,  earth,  hell,  and  everywhere  a  queen,        isos 

Grant  this  my  first  desire;  let  discord  cease, 

And  make  betwixt  the  rivals  lasting  peace: 

Quench  their  hot  fire,  or  far  from  me  remove 

The  flame,  and  turn  it  on  some  other  love ; 

Or  if  my  frowning  stars  have  so  decreed,  1510 

That  one  must  be  rejected,  one  succeed, 

Make  him  my  lord,  within  whose  faithful  breast 

Is  fixed  my  image,  and  who  loves  me  best. 

But  oh !  even  that  avert !  I  choose  it  not, 

But  take  it  as  the  least  unhappy  lot.  isi? 

A  maid  I  am,  and  of  thy  virgin  train; 

Oh,  let  me  still  that  spotless  name  retain! 

Frequent  the  forests,  thy  chaste  will  obey, 

And  only  make  the  beasts  of  chase  my  prey !M 

The  flames  ascend  on  either  altar  clear,  1520 

While  thus  the  blameless  maid  addressed  her  prayer. 
When  lo!  the  burning  fire  that  shone  so  bright 
Flew  off,  all  sudden,  with  extinguished  light, 

1  r>  i  f\  ( 1472) .  — And  why  1 1  live  a  may de,  I  vvol  thee  serve. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  .  10'J 

And  left  one  altar  dark,  a  little  space, 
r*s  \Yhich  turned  self -kindled,  and  renewed  the  blaze; 

That  other  victor -flame  a  moment  stood, 

Then  fell,  and  lifeless  left  the  extinguished  wood ; 

For  ever  lost,  the  irrevocable  light 

Forsook  the  blackening  coals,  and  sunk  to  night : 
i*3o  At  either  end  it  whistled  as  it  flew, 

And  as  the  brands  were  green,  so  dropped  the  dew. 

Infected  as  it  fell  with  sweat  of  sanguine  hue. 
The  maid  from  that  ill  omen  turned  her  eyes, 

And  with  loud  shrieks  and  clamours  rent  the  skies ; 
1535  Kor  knew  what  signified  the  boding  sign, 

But  found  the  powers  displeased,  and  feared  the 

wrath  divine. 
Then  shook  the  sacred  shrine,  and  sudden  light 

Sprung  through  the  vaulted  roof,  and  made  the 
temple  bright. 

The  Power,  behold!  the  Power  in  glory  shone, 
1540  By  her  bent  bow  and  her  keen  arrows  kTiown ; 

The  rest,  a  huntress  issuing  from  the  wood, 

Reclining  on  her  cornel  spear  she  stood. 

1526  (1477).— 

—and  after  that  anon 
That  other  fyr  was  queynt,1  and  al  agon; 
And  as  it  queynte,  it  made  a  whistelinge, 
As  doon  thise  wete  brondes  in  hir  brenninge. 2 
And  at  the  brondes  ende  out-ran  anoon 
As  it  were  blody  dropes  many  oon ; 

1537  (1488).—  , 

And  ther-with-al  Diane  gan  appere, 

With  bowe  in  hond,  right  as  an  hunteresse. 

And  seyde:    'Doghter,  stint  thyn  hevinesse. 


'Quenched.        2  Burning. 


110  PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE 

Then  gracious  thus  began:  " Dismiss  thy  fear, 

And  Heaven 's  unchanged  decrees  attentive  hear : 

More  powerful  gods  have  torn  thee  from  my  side,  1:^5 

Unwilling  to  resign,  and  doomed  a  bride ; 

The  two  contending  knights  are  weighed  above; 

One  Mars  protects,  and  one  the  Queen  of  Love : 

But  which  the  man  is  in  the  Thunderer 's  breast ; 

This  he  pronounced,  '  'Tis  he  who  loves  thee  best. '  1550 

The  fire  that,  once  extinct,  revived  again 

Foreshows  the  love  allotted  to  remain. 

Farewell!''  she  said,  and  vanished  from  the  place; 

The  sheaf  of  arrows  shook,  and  rattled  in  the  case. 

Aghast  at  this,  the  royal  virgin  stood,  1555 

Disclaimed,  and  now  no  more  a  sister  of  the  wood: 

But  to  the  parting  Goddess  thus  she  prayed  : 

"  Propitious  still,  be  present  to  my  aid, 

Nor  quite  abandon  your  once  favoured  maid." 

Then  sighing  she  returned;  but  smiled  betwixt,        1550 

With  hopes,  and  fears,  and  joys  with  sorrows  mixt. 

The  next  returning  planetary  hour 
Of  Mars,  who  shared  the  heptarchy  of  power, 
His  steps  bold  Arcite  to  the  temple  bent, 
To  adorn  with  pagan  rites  the  power  armipotent :  1555 
Then  ^prostrate,  low  before  his  altar  lay, 

1549  (1495). — But  un-to  which  of  hem  I  may  nat  telle. 

1560  (1507).— 

And  hoom  she  goth  anon  the  nexte  weye. 
This  is  theffect, l  ther  is  namore  to  seye. 


'The  effect,  the  conclusion. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  111 

And  raised  his   manly  voice,   and  thus   began  to 

pray : 

" Strong  God  of  Arms,  whose  iron  sceptre  sways 
The  freezing  Xorth,  and  Hyperborean  seas, 

i>>70  And  Scythian  colds,  and  Thracia's  wintry  coast. 
Where  stand  thy  steeds,  and  thou  art  honoured  most : 
There  most,  but  everywhere  thy  power  is  known, 
The  fortune  of  the  fight  is  all  thy  own : 
Terror  is  thine,  and  wild  amazement,  flung 

1575  From  out  thy  chariot,  withers  even  the  strong; 
And  disarray  and  shameful  rout  ensue, 
And  force  is  added  to  the  fainting  crew. 
Acknowledged  as  thou  art,  accept  my  prayer ! 
If  aught  I  have  achieved  deserve  thy  care, 

1580  If  to  my  utmost  power  with  sword  and  shield 
I  dared  the  death,  unknowing  how  to  yield. 
And  falling  in  my  rank,  still  kept  the  field ; 
Then  let  my  arms  prevail,  by  thee  sustained, 
That  Emily  by  conquest  may  be  gained. 

1585  Have  pity  on  my  pains ;  nor  those  unknown 
To  Mars,  which,  when  a  lover,  were  his  own. 
Venus,  the  public  care  of  all  above, 
Thy  stubborn  heart  has  softened  into  love : 

1595  By  those  dear  pleasures,  aid  my  arms  in  fight r 
And  make  me  conquer  in  my  patron's  right : 

1566  (1513).-^ 

With  jSitous1  herte  and  heigh  devocioun, 
Right  thus  to  Mars  he  seyde  his  orisouiL 


lPiteous;  compassionate. 


1  1  •>  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

For  I  am  young,  a  novice  in  the  trade, 

The  fool  of  love,  unpractised  to  persuade, 

And  want  the  soothing  arts  that  catch  the  fair, 

Ikit,  caught  myself,  lie  struggling  in  the  snare ;        i6oo 

And  she  I  love  or  laughs  at  all  my  pain 

Or  knows  her  worth  too  well,  and  pays  me  with 

disdain. 

JPor  sure  I  am,  unless  I  win  in  arms, 
To  stand  excluded  from  Emilia's  charms: 
!Nor  can  my  strength  avail,  unless  by  thee  i«05 

Endued  with  force  I  gain  the  victory; 
Then  for  the  fire  which  warmed  thy  generous  heart, 
Pity  thy  subject's  pains  and  equal  smart. 
So  be  the  morrow's  sweat  and  labour  mine, 
The  palm  and  honour  of  the  conquest  thine :  isio 

Then  shall  the  war,  and  stern  debate,  and  strife 
Immortal  be  the  business  of  my  life ; 
And  in  thy  fane,  the  dusty  spoils  among, 
High  on  the  burnished  roof , my  banner  shall  be  hung, 
Banked  with  my  champion's  bucklers;  and  below?  itfis 
With  arms  reversed,  the  achievements  of  my  foe ; 
And  while  these  limbs  the  vital  spirit  feeds, 
While  day  to  night,  and  night  to  day  succeeds, 
Thy  smoking  altar  shall  be  fat  with  food 
Of  incense  and  the  grateful  steam  of  blood ;  1620 

Burnt-offerings  morn  and  evening  shall  be  thine, 
And  fires  eternal  in  thy  temple  shine. 
The  bush  of  yellow  beard,  this  length  of  hair, 
Which  from  my  birth  inviolate  I  bear, 
Guiltless  of  steel,  and  from  the  razor  free,  ia2* 


• 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  1 1  o 

Shall  fall  a  plenteous  crop,  reserved  for  thee. 
So  may  my  arms  with  victory  be  blest, 
I  ask  no  more;  let  Fate  dispose  the  rest." 

The  champion  ceased ;  there  followed  in  the  close 
i63o  A  hollow  groan ;  a  murmuring  wind  arose ; 

The  rings  of  iron,  that  on  the  doors  were  hung-, 
Sent  out  a  jarring  sound,  and  harshly  rung: 
•The  bolted  gates  flew  open  at  the  blast, 
The  storm  rushed  in,  and  Arcite  stood  aghast  : 
1635  The  flames  were  blown  aside,  yet  shone  they  bright^ 
Fanned  by  the  wind,  and  gave  a  ruffled  light. 

Then  from  the  ground  a  scent  began  to  rise, 
Sweet  smelling  as  accepted  sacrifice : 
This  omen  pleased,  and  as  the  flames  aspire 
1640  With  odorous  incense  Arcite  heaps  the  fire : 
Nor  wanted  hymns  to  Mars  or  heathen  charms : 
.t  length  the  nodding  statue  clashed  his  arms, 
.nd  with  a  sullen  sound  and  feeble  cry, 
[alf  sunk  and  half  pronounced  the  word  of  Victory. 
1645  For  this,  with  soul  devout,  he  thanked  the  God, 
And,  of  success  secure,  returned  to  his  abode. 

These  vows,  thus  granted,  raised  a  strife  above 
betwixt  the  God  of  War  and  Queen  of  Love. 
She,  granting  first,  had  right  of  time  to  plead ; 

1643  (1574).— 

And  with  that  spun  he  herde  a  murmuringe 
Ful  lowe  and  dim,  that  sayde  thus,  'Victoria. ' 

1645  (1578).— 

Arcite  anon  un-to  his  inne  is  fare 

As  fayn1  as  fowel2  is  of  the  brighte  sonne. 


'Glad.       2Bird. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

But  he  had  granted  too,  nor  would  recede.  leso 

Jove  was  for  Venus,  but  he  feared  his  wife, 
And  seemed  unwilling  to  decide  the  strife ; 
Till  Saturn  from  his  leaden  throne  arose, 
-And  found  a  way  the  difference  to  compose : 
"Though  sparing  of  his  grace,  to  mischief  bent,          i6.v> 
He  seldom  does  a  good  with  good  intent. 
Wayward,  but  wise;  by  long  experience  taught, 
To  please  both  parties,  for  ill  ends,  he  sought : 
ForHhis  advantage  age  from  vouth  has  won, 
As  not  to  be  outriddenJ^ou^F  outrun.  i860 

By  fortune  he  was  now  to  Venus  trined, 
And  with  stern  Mars  in  Capricorn  was  joined : 
Of  him  disposing  in  his  own  abode, 
He  soothed  the  Goddess,  while  he  gulled  the  God: 
*' Cease,  daughter,  to  complain,  and  stint  the  strife;  IGCJ 
Thy  Palamon  shall  have  his  promised  wife : 
And  Mars,  the  lord  of  conquest,  in  the  fight 
With  palm  and  laurel  shall  adorn  his  knight. 
Wide  is  my  course,  nor  turn  I  to  my  place 
Till  length  of  time,  and  move  with  tardy  pace.         lerc 
Man  feels  me,  when  I  press  the  ethereal  plains ; 
My  hand  is  heavy,  and  the  wound  remains. 
Mine  is^the  shipwreck  in  a  watery  sign ; 
And  in  an  earthy  the  dark  dungeon  mine. 
Cold  shivering  agues,  melancholy  care,  18:5 

And  bitter  blasting  winds,  and  poisoned  air, 

1659  (1591).— 

Men  may  the  olde  at-renne,  and  noght  at-rede. 1 

"The  young  may  outrun  the  old,  but  not  surpass  them  in  counsel. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE      t  115 

Are  mine,  and  wilful  death,  resulting  from  despair. 

The  throttling  quinsey  'tis  my  star  appoints, 

And  rheumatisms  I  send  to  rack  the  joints : 
leso  When  churls  rebel  against  their  native  prince, 

I  arm  their  hands,  and  furnish  the  pretence; 

And  housing  in  the  lion's  hateful  sign, 

Bought  senates  and  deserting  troops  are  mine. 

Mine  is  the  privy  poisoning;  I  command 
less  Unkindly  seasons  and  ungrateful  land. 

By  me  kings '  palaces  are  pushed  to  ground, 

And  miners  crushed  beneath  their  mines  are  found. 

'Twas  I  slew  Samson,  when  the  pillared  hall 

Fell  down,  and  crushed  the  many  with  the  fall. 
i69o  My  looking  is  the  sire  of  pestilence, 

That  sweeps  at  once  the  people  and  the  prince. 

Xow  weep  no  more,  but  trust  thy  grandsire's  art, 

Mars  shall  be  pleased,  and  thou  perform  thy  part. 

'Tis  ill,  though  different  your  complexions  are, 
1695  The  family  of  Heaven  for  men  should  war." 

The  expedient  pleased,  where  neither  lost  his  right ; 

Mars  had  the  day,  and  Venus  had  the  night. 

The  management  they  left  to  Chronos'  care; 

Xow  turn  we  to  the  effect,  and  sing  the  war. 
noo      In  Athens  all  was  pleasure,  mirth,  and  pfecy, 

All  proper  to  the  spring,  and  sprightly  May: 

Which  every  soul  inspired  with  such  delight, 

'Twas  justing  all  the  day,  and  love  at  night. 

Heaven  smiled,  and  gladded  was  the  heart  of  man; 
iris  And  Venus  had  the  world  as  when  it  first  began. 

At  length  in  sleep  their  bodies  they  compose, 


1UJ  .     PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

And  dreamt  the  future  fight,  and  early  rose. 

Now  scarce  the  dawning  day  began  to  spring, 
As  at  a  signal  given,  the  streets  with  clamours  ring: 
At  once  the  crowd  arose;  confused  and  high,  1:10 

Even  from  the  heaven  was  heard  a  shouting  cry, 
For  Mars  was  early  up,  and  roused  the  sky. 
The  gods  came  downward  to  behold  the  wars, 
Sharpening  their  sights,   and  leaning  from  their 

stars. 

The  neighing  of  the  generous  horse  was  heard,          ins 
For  battle  by  the  busy  groom  prepared : 
Hustling  of  harness,  rattling  of  the  shield, 
Clattering  of  armour,  furbished  for  the  field. 
Crowds  to  the  castle  mounted  up  the  street ; 
Battering  the  pavement  with  their  coursers'  feet:  ir*) 
The  greedy  sight  might  there  devour  the  gold 
Of  glittering  arms,  too  dazzling  to  behold : 
And  polished  steel  that  cast  the  view  aside, 
And  crested  morions,  with  their  plumy  pride. 
Knights,  with  a  long  retinue  of  their  squires,  1725 

In  gaudy  liveries  march,  and  quaint  attires. 
One  laced  the  helm,  another  held  the  lance; 
A  third  the  shining  buckler  did  advance. 
The  courser  pawed  the  ground  with  restless  feet, 
And  snorting  foamed,  and  champed  the  golden  bit.  1:30 
The  smiths  and  armourers  on  palfreys  rido, 
Files  in  their  hands,  and  hammers  at  their  side, 
And   nails   for   loosened   spears,    and   thongs    for 

shields  provide. 
The  yeomen  guard  the  streets  in  seemly  bands , 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  117 

1735  And  clowns  come   crowding  on,  with   cudgels 

their  hands. 
The  trumpets,  next  the  gate,  in  order  placed, 
Attend  the  sign  to  sound  the  martial  blast: 
The  palace-yard  is  filled  with  floating  tides, 
And  the  last  comers  bear  the  former  to  the  sides. 

1740  The  throng  is  in  the  midst ;  the  common  crew 
Shut  out,  the  hall  admits  the  better  few. 
In  knots  they  stand,  or  in  a  rank  they  walk, 
Serious  in  aspect,  earnest  in  their  talk ; 
Factious,  and  favouring  this  or  t'other  side, 

1745  As  their  strong  fancies  and  weak  reason  guide : 
Their  wagers  back  their  wishes ;  numbers  hold 
With  the  fair  freckled  king,  and  beard  of  gold: 
So  vigorous  are  his  eyes,  such  rays  they  cast, 
So  prominent  his  eagle's  beak  is  placed. 

1750  But  most  their  looks  on  the  black  monarch  bend, 
His  rising  muscles  and  his  brawn  commend ; 
His  double-biting  axe,  and  beamy  spear, 
Each  asking  a  gigantic  force  to  rear. 
All  spoke  as  partial  favour  moved  the  mind ; 

1755  And,  safe  themselves,  at  others'  cost  divined. 

Waked  by  the  cries,  the  Athenian  chief  arose, 
The  knightly  forms  of  combat  to  dispose ; 
And  passing  through  the  obsequious  guards,  he  sate 
Conspicuous  on  a  throne,  sublime  in  state ; 

1736  (1653).— 

Pypes,  trompes,  nakers,1  clariounes, 
That  in  the  bataille  blowen  blody  sounes.* 


Kettle-drums.       2Sound> 


118  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

There,  for  the  two  contending  knights  he  sent ;        neo 

Armed  cap-a-pe,  with  reverence  low  they  bent : 

He  smiled  on  both,  and  with  superior  look 

Alike  their  offered  adoration  took. 

The  people  press  on  every  side  to  see 

Their  awful  Prince,  and  hear  his  high  decree.  nes 

Then  signing  to  their  heralds  with  his  hand, 

They  gave  his  orders  from  their  lofty  stand. 

Silence  is  thrice  enjoined ;  then  thus  aloud 

The  king-at-arms  bespeaks  the  knights  and  listening 

crowd : 

"Our  sovereign  lord  has  pondered  in  his  mind      1770 
The  means  to  spare  the  blood  of  gentle  kind ; 
And  of  his  grace  and  inborn  clemency, 
He  modifies  his  first  severe  decree, 
The  keener  edge  of  battle  to  rebate, 
The  troops  for  honour  fighting,  not  for  hate.  1775 

He  wills,  not  death  should  terminate  their  strife, 
And  wounds,  if  wounds  ensue,  be  short  of  life; 
But  issues,  ere  the  fight,  his  dread  command, 
That  slings  afar,  and  poniards  hand  to  hand, 
Be  banished  from  the  field ;  that  none  shall  dare      nso 
With  shortened  sword  to  stab  in  closer  war ; 
But  in  fair  combat  fight  with  manly  strength, 

1758  (1670).— 

Duk  Theseus  was  at  a  window  set, 
Arrayed  right  as  he  were  a  god  in  trone.1 

1771  (1083). — 

Wherfore,  to  shapen2  that  they  shul  not  dye, 
Ie  wol  his  firste  purpos  modifye. 


JOn  a  throne.         "Make  sure. 


PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE  11!) 

Xor  push  with  biting  point, 'but  strike  at  length. 
The  turney  is  allowed  but  one  career 

1785  Of  the  tough  ash,  with  the  sharp-grinded  spear, 
But  knights  unhorsed  may  rise  from  off  the  plain, 
And  fight  on  foot  their  honour  to  regain; 
Nor,  if  at  mischief  taken,  on  the  ground 
Be  slain,  but  prisoners  to  the  pillar  bound, 

1790  At  either  barrier  placed ;  nor,  captives  made, 
Be  freed,  or  armed  anew  the  fight  invade : 
The  chief  of  either  side,  bereft  of  life, 
Or  yielded  to  his  foe,  concludes  the  strife. 
Thus  dooms  the  lord:    now  valiant   knights   and 
young, 

1-3*5  Fight  each  his  fill,  with  swords  and  maces  long." 

The  herald  ends :  the  vaulted  firmament 
\Vith  loud  acclaims  and  vast  applause  is  rent : 
Heaven  guard  a  Prince  so  gracious  and  so  good, 
So  just,  and  yet  so  provident  of  blood! 

isco  This  was  the  general  cry.     The  trumpets  sound, 
And  warlike  symphony  is  heard  around. 
The  marching  troops  through  Athens  take  their 

way, 

The  great  Earl-marshal  orders  their  array. 
The  fair  from  high  the  passing  pomp  behold ; 

1805  A  rain  of  flowers  is  from  the  windows  rolled. 

1796  (1703).— 

The  voys  of  peple  touchede  the  hevene, 
So  loude  cryden  they  with  mery  stevene1  : 
*God  save  swich  a  lord,  that  is  so  good, 
He  wilneth  no  destruccioun  of  blood. ' 


1  Sound, 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

casements  are  with  golden  tissue  spread, 
ncl  horses'  hoofs,    for  earth,  on  silken  tapestry 

tread. 

The  King  goes  midmost,  and  the  rivals  ride 
In  equal  rank,  and  close  his  either  side. 
Next  after  these  there  rode  the  royal  wife,  isio 

With  Emily,  the  cause  and  the  reward  of  strife. 
The  following  cavalcade,  by  three  and  three, 
Proceed  by  titles  marshajled  in  degree. 
Thus  through  the  southern  gate  they  take  their 

way, 

And  at  the  list  arrived  ere  prime  of  day.  IM* 

There,  parting  from  the  King,  the  chiefs  divide, 
And  wheeling  east  and  west,  before  their  many  ride. 
The  Athenian  monarch  mounts  his  throne  on  high, 
And  after  him  the  Queen  and  Emily : 
Next  these,  the  kindred  of  the  crown  are  graced       IS-JQ 
With  nearer  seats,  and  lords  by  ladies  placed. 
Scarce  were  they  seated,  when  with  clamours  loud 
In  rushed  at  once  a  rude  promiscuous  crowd, 
The  guards,  and  then  each  other  over  bare, 
And  in  a  moment  throng  the  spacious  theatre.  i.^s 

Now  changed  the  jarring  noise  to  whispers  low, 
As  winds  forsaking  seas  more  softly  blow, 
When  at  the  western  gate,  on  which  the  car 
Is  placed  aloft  that  bears  the  God  of  War, 
Proud  Arcite  entering  armed  before  his  train  i^o 

Stops  at  the  barrier,  and  divides  the  plain. 
Red  was  his  banner,  and  displayed  abroad 
The  bloody  colours  of  his  patron  god. 


PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE  131 

At  that  self  moment  enters  Palamon, 

i^  Ihe  gate  of  Venus,  and  the  rising  Sun; 

Waved  by  the  wanton  winds,  his  banner  flies, 
All  maiden  white,  and  shares  the  people's  eyes. 
From  east  to  west,  look  all  the  world  around, 
Two  troops  so  matched  were  never  to  be  found ; 

iM»  Such  bodies  built  for  strength,  of  equal  age, 
In  stature  sized;  so  proud  an  equipage: 
The.  nicest  eye  could  no  distinction  make, 
Where  lay  the  advantage,  or  what  side  to  take. 
Thus  ranged,  the  herald  for  the  last  proclaims 

1845  A  silence,  while  they  answered  to  their  names : 
For  so  the  king  decreed,  to  shun  with  care 
The  fraud  of  musters  false,  the  common  bane  of 

war. 

The  tale  was  just,  and  then  the  gates  were  closed; 
And  chief  to  chief,  and  troop  to  troop  opposed. 

isso  The  heralds  last  retired,  and  loudly  cried, 
"The  fortune  of  the  field  be  fairly" tried ! " 
At  this  the  challenger,  with  fierce  defy 
His  trumpet  sounds ;  the  challenged  makes  reply : 
With  clangour  rings  the  ileld,  resounds  the  vaulted 
sky. 

i^sn  Their  vizors  closed,  their  lances  in  the  rest, 
Or  at  Che  helmet  pointed,  or  the  crest, 
They  vanish  from  the  barrier,  speed  the  race, 
And  spurring  see  decrease  the  middle  space. 

1851  (1740).— 

Do  now  your  devoir,1  yon ge  knightes  proudel 


French  word  meaning  duty. 


1^  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

A  cloud  of  smoke  envelopes  either  host, 
And  all  at  once  the  combatants  are  lost: 
-Darkling  they  join  adverse,  and  shock  unseen, 
Coursers  with  coursers  justling,  men  with  men: 
As  labouring  in  eclipse,  a  while  they  stay, 
Till  the  next  blast  of  wind  restores  the  day. 
They  look  anew ;  the  beauteous  form  of  fight 
Is  changed,  and  war  appears  a  grisly  sight. 
Two  troops  in  fair  array  one  moment  showed, 

The  next,  a  field  with  fallen  bodies  strowed : 

Not  half  the  number  in  their  seats  are  found ; 

But  men  and  steeds  lie  grovelling  on  the  ground. 

The  points  of  spears  are  stuck  within  the  shield, 

The  steeds  without  their  riders  scour  the  field. 

The  knights  unhorsed,  on  foot  renew  the  fight ; 

The  glittering  fauchions  cast  a  gleaming  light: 

Hauberks    and    helms    are    hewed   with    many  a 
wound, 

Out  spins  the  streaming  blood,  and  dyes  the  ground. 

The  mighty  maces  with  such  haste  descend, 

1871  (1748).— 

He  feleth  thurgh  the  herte-spoon1  the  prikke. 
Up  springen  speres  twenty  foot  on  highte ; 
Out  goth  the  swerdes  as  the  silver  brighte. 
The  helmes  they  to -he wen2  and  to-shrede;3 
Out  brest  the  blood,  with  sterne  stremes  rede. 
With  mighty  maces  the  bones  they  to-breste.4 
He    thurgh    the    thikkeste   of    the    throng     gan 

threste. 
Ther    stomblen  steedes     stronge,    and   doun    gotfc 

alle. 
He  rolleth  under  foot  as  doth  a  balle. 

~~  JJx>wer  part  of  breast.       2  Hewed.       3Cut  iii  shreds.       'Break. 


PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE  123 

They  break  the  bones,  and  make  the  solid  armour 
bend. 

This  thrusts  amid  the  throng  with  fur  ions  force ; 
J880  Down  goes,  at  once,  the  horseman  and  the  horse: 

That  courser  stumbles  on  the  fallen  steed, 

And,  floundering,  throws  the  rider  o'er  his  head. 

One  rolls  along,  a  football  to  his  foes ;      */ 

One  with  a  broken  truncheon  deals  his  blows. 
1885  This  halting,  this  disabled  with  his  wound. 

In  triumph  led,  is  to  the  pillar  bound, 
'Where  by  the  king's  award  he  must  abide: 

There  goes  a  captive  led  on  t'other  side. 

By  fits  they  cease,  and  leaning  on  the  lance, 
1890  Take  breath  awhile,  and  to  new  fight  advance. 
Full  oft  the  rivals  met,  and  neither  spared 

His  utmost  force,  and  each  forgot  to  ward : 

The  head  of  this  was  to  the  saddle  bent, 

The  other  backward  to  the  crupper  sent : 
1895  Both  were  by  turns  unhorsed ;  the  jealous  blows 

Fall  thick  and  heavy,  when  on  foot  they  close. 

So  deep  their  fauchions  bite,  that  every  stroke 

Pierced  to  the  quick ;  and  equal  wounds  they  gave 
and  took. 

Borne  far  asunder  by  the  tides  of  men, 
190o  Like  adamant  and  steel  they  met  agen. 

So  when  a  tiger  sucks  the  bullock ;s  blood, 

A  famished  lion  issuing  from  the  wood 

Eoars  lordly  fierce,  and  challenges  the  food. 

Each  claims  possession,  neither  will  obey, 
1905  But  both  their  paws  are  fastened  on  the  prey; 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

They  bite,  they  tear ;  and  while  in  vain  they  strive, 
The   swains   come   armed   between,  and   both   to 
distance  drive. 

At  length,  as  Fate  foredoomed,  and  all  things 

tend 

By  course  of  time  to  their  appointed  end ; 
So  when  the  sun  to  west  was  far  declined,  1910 

And  both  afresh  in  mortal  battle  joined, 
The  strong  Emetrius  came  in  Arcite's  aid, 
And  Palamon  with  odds  was  overlaid : 
For,  turning  short,  he  struck  with  all  his  might 
Full  on  the  helmet  of  the  unwary  knight.  i9is 

Deep  was  the  wound;  he  staggered  with  the  blow, 
And  turned  him  to  his  unexpected  foe ; 
Whom  with  such  force  he  struck,  he  felled  him 

down, 

And  cleft  the  circle  of  his  golden  crown. 
But  Arcite's  men,  who  now  prevailed  in  fight,          i»ao 
Twice  ten  at  once  surround  the  single  knight : 
Overpowered  at   length,    they   force    him   to    the 

ground, 

Unyielded  as  he  was,  and  to  the  pillar  bound; 
And  king  Lycurgus,  while  he  fought  in  vain 
His  friend  to  free,  was  tumbled  on  the  plain.  1925 

Who  now  laments  but  Palamon,  compelled 
No  more  to  try  the  fortune  of  the  field, 
And,  worse  than  death,  to  view  with  hateful  eyes 
His  rival's  conquest,  and  renounce  the  prize! 

The  royal  judge  on  his  tribunal  placed,  1930 

Who  had  beheld  the  fight  from  first  to  last, 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  125 

Bad  cease  the  war;  pronouncing  from  on  high, 
Arcite  of  Thebes  had  won  the  beauteous  Emily. 
The  sound  of  trumpets  to  the  voice  replied, 

1935  And  round  the  royal  lists  the  heralds  cried, 

4 'Arcite  of  Thebes  has  won  the  beauteous  bride!" 

The  people  rend  the  skies -with  vast  applause; 
All  own  the  chief,  when  Fortune  owns  the  cause. 
Arcite  is  owned  even  by  the  gods  above, 

1940  And  conquering  Mars  insults  the  Queen  of  Love. 
So  laughed  he  when  the  rightful  Titan  failed, 
And  Jove's  usurping  arms  in  heaven  prevailed. 
Laughed  all  the  powers  who  favour  tyranny, 
And  all  the  standing  army  of  the  skg^ 

1945  But  Venus  with  dejected  eyes  appears, 

And  weeping  on  the  lists  distilled  her  tears ; 
Her  will  refused,  which  grieves  a  woman  most, 
And,  in  her  champion  foiled,  the  cause  of  Love  is 

lost. 
Till  Saturn  said: — "Fair  daughter,  now  be  still, 

1950  The  blustering  fool  has  satisfied  his  will ; 

His  boon  is  given ;  his  knight  has  gained  the  day, 
But  lost  the  prize;  the  arrears  are  yet  to  pay. 
Thy  hour  is  come,  and  mine  the  care  shall  be 
To  please  thy  knight,  and  set  thy  promise  free. " 

1936  (1800).— 

'Arcite  of  Thebes  shal  have  Emelye, 

That  by  his  fortune  hath  hir  faire  y-wonne. ' 

Anon  ther  is  a  noyse  of  peple  bygonne1 

For  loye  of  this,  so  lowde  and  heigh  with-alle, 

It  semed  that  the  listes  sholde  falle. 


Begun. 


126  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Now  while  the  heralds  run  the  lists  around,  1955 

AndArcite!  Arcite!  heaven  and  earth  resound, 
A  miracle  (nor  less  it  could  be  called) 
Their  joy  with  unexpected  sorrow  palled. 
The  victor  knight  had  laid  his  helm  aside, 
Part  for  his  ease,  the  greater  part  for  pride :  i960 

Bareheaded,  popularly  low  he  bowed, 
And  paid  the  salutations  of  the  crowd ; 
Then  spurring,  at  full  speed,  ran  endlong  on 
Where  Theseus  sat  on  his  imperial  throne ; 
Furious  he  drove,  and  upward  cast  his  eye,  i»65 

Where,  next  the  Queen,  was  placed  his  Emily; 
Then  pausing,  to  the  saddle-bow  he  bent ; 
A  sweet  regard  the  gracious  virgin  lent ; 
(For  women,  to  the  brave  an  easy  prey, 
Still  follow  Fortune,  where  she  leads  the  way :)         1970 
Just  then  from  earth  sprung  out  a  flashing  fire, 
By  Pluto  sent,  at  Saturn's  bad  desire: 
The  startling  steed  was  seized  with  sudden  fright, 
And,  bounding,  o'er  the  pummel  cast  the  knight; 
Forward  he  flew,  and  pitching  on  his  head,  i9?5 

He  quivered  with  his  feet,  and  lay  for  dead. 
Black  was  his  countenance  in  a  little  space, 
For  all  the  blood  was  gathered  in  his  face. 
Help  was   at   hand:    they   reared   him  from  the 

ground, 

And  from  his  cumbrous  arms  his  limbs  unbound;  iflso 
Then  lanced  a  vein,  and  watched  returning  breath ; 
It  came,  but  clogged  with  symptoms  of  his  death. 
The  saddle-bow  the  noble  parts  had  prest, 


PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE  127 

All  bruised  and  mortified  his  manly  breast. 

1985  Him  still  entranced,  and  in  a  litter  laid, 

They  bore  from  field,  and  to  his  bed  conveyed. 
At  length  he  waked;  and,  with  a  feeble  cry, 
The  word  he  first  pronounced,  was  Emily. 

Mean    time    the    King,    though    inwardly    he 
mourned, 

1990  In  pomp  triumphant  to  the  town  returned. 
Attended  by  the  chiefs  who  fought  the  field, 
(Now  friendly  mixed,  and  in  one  troop  compelled,) 
Composed  his  looks  to  counterfeited  cheer, 
And  bade  them  not  for  Arcite's  life  to  fear. 

1995  But  that  which  gladded  all  the  warrior  train, 

Though  most  were  sorely  wounded,  none  were  slain. 
The  surgeons  soon  despoiled  them  of  their  arms, 
And  some  with  salves  they  cure,  and  some  with 

charms ; 
Foment  the  bruises,  and  the  pains  assuage, 

2000  And    heal    their     inward    hurts    with    sovereign 

draughts  of  sage. 

The  King  in  person  visits  all  around, 
Comforts  the  sick,  congratulates  the  sound; 
Honours  the  princely  chiefs,  rewards  the  rest, 
And  holds  for  thrice  three  days  a  royal  feast. 

2005  None  was  disgraced;  for  falling  is  no  shame, 

And  cowardice  alone  is  loss  of  Jame. 

1986  (1836). — Anon  he  was  y-born  out  of  the  place 
With  herte  soor,  to  Theseus  paleys. 1 

2003  (1877).— And  yaf  hem  yiftes  after  hir  degree, 
And  fully  heeld  a  feste  dayes  three. 


1  Palace. 


123  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

The  venturous  knight  is  from  the  saddle  thrown, 

But  'tis  the  fault  of  fortune,  not  his  own ; 

If  crowds  and  palms  the  conquering  side  adorn, 

The  victor  under  better  stars  was  born :  2010 

The  brave  man  seeks  not  popular  applause, 

Nor,  overpowered  with  arms,  deserts  his  cause; 

U nshamed,  though  foiled,  he  does  the  best  he  can : 

Force  is  of  brutes,  but  honour  is  of  man. 

Thus  Theseus  smiled  on  all  with  equal  grace,        2015 
And  each  was  set  according  to  his  place; 
With  ease  were  reconciled  the  differing  parts, 
For  envy  never  dwells  in  noble  hearts. 
At  length  they  took  their  leave,  the  time  expired; 
Well  pleased,  and  to  their  several  homes  retired.      20-33 

Meanwhile,  the  health  of  Arcite  still  impairs ; 
tFrom    bad  proceeds    to   worse,   and    mocks    the 

leech  ?s  cares ; 

Swoln  is  his  breast;  his  inward  pains  increase; 
All  means  are  used,  and  all  without  success. 
The  clottered  blood  lies  heavy  on  his  heart,  2025 

Corrupts,  and  there  remains  in  spite  of  art; 
Nor  breathing  veins  nor  cupping  will  prevail ; 
All  outward  remedies  and  inward  fail. 
The  mould  of  nature's  fabric  is  destroyed, 
Her  vessels  discomposed,  her  virtue  void:  2030 

The  bellows  of  his  lungs  begins  to  swell ; 
All  out  of  frame  is  every  secret  cell, 
Nor  can  the  good  receive,  nor  bad  expel. 
Those  breathing  organs,  thus  within  opprest, 
With  venom  soon  distend  the  sinews  of  his  breast.  2035 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Nought  profits  him  to  save  abandoned  life, 
Nor  vomit's  upward  aid,  nor  downward  laxative- 
The  midmost  region  battered  and  destroyed, 
When  nature  cannot  work,  the  effect  of  art  is  void: 

2040  For  physic  can  but  mend  our  crazy  state, 
Patch  an  old  building,  not  a  new  create.__ 
Arcite  is  doomed  to  die  in  all  his  pride, 
.     Must  leave  his  youth  and  yield  his  beauteous  bride, 
Gained  hardly  against  right,  and  unenjoyed. 

2045  When  'twas  declared  all  hope  of  life  was  past, 
Conscience,  that' of  all  physic  works  the  last, 
Caused  him  to  send  for  Emily  in  haste. 
With  her,  at  his  desire,  came  Palamon; 
Then,  on  his  pillow*  raised,  he  thus  begun : 

2050  "No  language  can  express  the  smallest  part 
Of  what  I  feel,  and  suffer  in  my  heart, 
For  you,  whom  best  I  love  and  value  most ; 
But  to  your  service  I  bequeath  my  ghost ; 
Which,  from  this  mortal  body  when  untied, 

2050  (1907).— 

'Naught  may  the  woful  spirit  in  myn  herte 

Declare  o1  poynt  of  alle  my  sorwes  smerte 

To  yow,  my  lady,  that  I  love  most ; 

But. I  byquethe  the  service  of  my  gost2 

To  yow  aboven  every  creature, 

Sin  that  my  ly f  ne  may  no  lenger  dure. ? 

Alias,  the  wo !  alias,  the  peynes  stronge, 

That  I  for  yow  have  suffred,  and  so  longe  f 

Alias,  the  deeth !  alias,  myn  Emelye ! 

Alias,  departing  of  our  compaignye ! 

Alias,  myn  hertes  quene !  alias,  my  wyf ! 

Myn  hertes  lady,  endere  of  my  lyf ! 

What  is  this  world?  what  asketh  men  to  have? 


'One.     "Ghost,  spirit.     3  Endure. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Unseen,  unheard,  shall  hover  at  your  side;  2055 

Nor  fright  you  waking,  nor  your  sleep  offend, 

But  wait  officious,  and  your  steps  attend. 

How  I  have  loved,  excuse  my  faltering  tongue, 

My  spirit's  feeble,  and  my  pains  are  strong: 

This  I  may  say,  I  only  grieve  to  die,  2060 

Because  I  lose  my  charming  Emily. 

To  die,  when  Heaven  had  put  you  in  my  power! 

Fate  could  not  choose  a  more  malicious  hour. 

What  greater  curse  could  envious  Fortune  give, 

Than  just  to  die  when  I  began  to  live!  soes 

Vain  men!  how  vanishing  a  bliss  we  crave; 

Xow  with  his  love,  now  in  his  colde  grave, 
Allone,  with-outen  any  compaignye. 
Fare-wel,  niy  swete  fo!1  myn  Emelye! 
And  softe  tak  me  in  your  armes  tweye, 
For  love  of  God,  and  herkneth  what  I  seye. 

I  have  heer  with  my  cosin  Palamon 
Had  stryf  and  rancour,  many  a  day  a-gon, 
For  love  of  yow,  and  for  my  lelousye. 
And  lupiter  so  wis  my  soule  gye, a 
To  speken  of  a  servant  proprely, 
With  alle  circumstaunces  trewely, 
'That  is  to  seyn,3  trouthe,  honour,  and  knighthede, 
Wisdom,  humblesse,  estaat,4  and  heigh  kinrede,' 
Fredom,  and  al  that  longeth6  to  that  art, 
So  lupiter  have  of  my  soule  part, 
As  in  this  world  right  now  ne  knowe  I  non 
So  worthy  to  be  loved  as  Palamon, 
That  serveth  yow,  and  wol  doon  al  his  lyf . 
And  if  that  evere  ye  shul  been  a  wyf , 
Foryet  nat  Palamon,  the  gentil  man/ 
And  with  that  word  his  speche  faille  gan, 
For  fro  his  feet  up  to  his  brest  was  come 
The  cold  of  deeth,  that  hadde  him  overcome. 


'Foe.  2  And  may  Jupiter  so  wisely  guide  my  soul  that  I  may 
speak,  etc.  3That  there  is  to  be  seen.  Possessions.  "High 
kindred.  6Belongeth. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  131 

Now  warm  in  love,  now  withering  in  the  grave! 

Never,  0  never  more  to  see  the  sun! 

Still  dark,  in  a  damp  vault,  and  still  alone ! 
sore  This  fate  is  common ;  but  I  lose  my  breath 

Near  bliss,  and  yet  not  blessed  before  my  death. 

Farewell !  but  take  me  dying  in  your  arms ; 

Tis  all  I  can  enjoy  of  all  your  charms : 

This  hand  I  cannot  but  in  death  resign; 
2075  Ah,  could  I  live!  but  while  I  live  'tis  mine. 

I  feel  my  end  approach  and  thus  embraced 

Am  pleased  to  die ;  but  hear  me  speak  my  last : 

Ah,  my  sweet  foe!  for  you,  and  you  alone, 

I  broke  my  faith  with  injured  Palamon. 
soso  But  love  the  sense  of  right  and  wrong  confounds ; 

Strong  love  and  proud  ambition  have  no  bounds. 

And  much  I  doubt,  should  Heaven  my  life  pro- 
long, 

I  should  return  to  justify  my  wrong; 

For  while  my  former  flames  remain  within, 
2085  Eepentance  is  but  want  of  power  to  sin. 

With  mortal  hatred  I  pursued  his  life, 

Nor  he  nor  you  were  guilty  of  the  strife ; 

Nor  I,  but  as  I  loved ;  yet  all  combined, 

Your  beauty  and  my  impotence  of  mind, 
sew  And  his  concurrent  flame  that  blew  my  fire, 

For  still  our  kindred  souls  had  one  desire. 

He  had  a  moment's  right  in  point  of  time; 

Had  I  seen  first,  then  his  had  been  the  crime. 

Fate  made  it  mine,  and  justified  his  right; 
2095  Nor  holds  this  earth  a  more  deserving  knight 


(:>•>  PALAMON  AXD  ARCITE 

For  virtue,  valour,  and  for  noble  blood, 

Truth,  honour,  all  that  is  comprised  in  good ; 

So  help  me  Heaven,  in  all  the  world  is  none 

So  worthy  to  be  loved  as  Palamon. 

He  loves  you  too,  with  such  a  holy  fire,  2100 

As  will  not,  cannot,  but  with  life  expire: 

Our  vowed  affections  both  have  often  tried, 

Nor  any  love  but  yours  could  ours  divide. 

Then,  by  my  love's  inviolable  band, 

P»y  my  long  suffering  and  my  short  command,  2105 

If  e'er  you  plight  your  vows  when  I  am  gone, 

Have  pity  on  the  faithful  Palamon." 

This  was  his  last ;  for  Death  came  on  amain, 
And  exercised  below  his  iron  reign; 
Then  upward  to  the  seat  of  life  he  goes;  2110 

Sense  fled  before  him,  what  he  touched  he  froze: 
Yet  could  he  not  his  closing  eyes  withdraw, 
Though  less  and  less  of  Emily  he  saw ; 
"So,  speechless,  for  a  little  space  he  lay; 
Then  grasped  the  hand  he  held,  and  sighed  his  2115 
soul  away. 

But  whither  went  his  soul?  let  such  relate 
Who  search  the  secrets  of  the  future  state : 
Divines  can  say  but  what  themselves  believe ; 
Strong  proofs  they  have,  but  not  demonstrative ; 
For,  were  all  plain,  then  all  sides  must  agree,  2120 

And  faith  itself  be  lost  in  certainty. 

2115  (1950).— 

His  laste  word  was  'mercy,  Emelye!' 
His  spirit  chaunged  hous,  and  wente  ther, 
As  I  cam  nevere,  I  can  nat  teller)  wher. 


PALAMOX  AND  ARC1TE  I  :':> 

To  live  uprightly  then  is  sure  the  best; 

To  save  ourselves,  and  not  to  damn  the  rest. 

The  soul  of  Arcite  went  where  heathens  go, 
2125  Who  better  live  than  we  though  less  they  know.   . 
In  Palamon  a  manly  grief  appears ; 

Silent  he  wept,  ashamed  to  show  his  tears. 
/     ,Emi]ia  shrieked  but  once;  and  then,  opprest 
?     With  sorrow,  sunk  upon  her  lover's  breast: 
2130  Till  Theseus  in  his  arms  conveyed  with  care 

Far  from  so  sad  a  sight  the  swooning  fair. 

'Twere  loss  of  time  her  sorrow  to  relate; 

111  bears  the  sex  a  youthful  lover's  fate, 

When  just  approaching  to  the  nuptial  state  : 
2135  But  like  a  low-hung  cloud,  it  rains  so  fast, 

That  all  at  once  it  falls,  and  cannot  last. 

The  face  of  things  is  changed,  and  Athens  now, 

That  laughed  so  late,  becomes  the  scene  of  woe : 

Matrons  and  maids,  both  sexes,  every  state, 
2140  With  tears  lament  the  knight's  untimely  fate.    '  £- 

Not  greater  grief  in  falling  Troy  was  seen 

For  Hector's  death;  1fuTHec_k>r  was  not  theu. 
\  Old  men  with  dust  deformed  their  hoary  hair ; 

The  women  beat  their  breasts,  their  cheeks  they 

tear. 

2M5  "Why  wouldst  thou  go,"  with  one  consent  they 
cry, 

"When  thou  hadst  gold  enough,  and  Emily?7' 
Theseus  himself,  who  should  have  cheered  the 
grief 

Of  others,  wanted  now  the  same  relief : 


134  PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE 

Old  JEgeus  only  could  revive  his  son, 

Who  various  changes  of  the  world  had  known,          2150 

And  strange  vicissitudes  of  human  fate, 

Still  altering,  never  in  a  steady  state; 

Good  after  ill  and  after  pain  delight, 

Alternate,  like  the  scenes  of  day  and  night. 

Since  every  man  who  lives  is  born  to  die,  2155 

And  none  can  boast  sincere  felicity, 

With  equal  mind,  what  happens,  let  us  bear, 

Nor  joy,  nor,  grieve  too  much  for  things  beyond 

our  care. 

Like  pilgrims  to  the  appointed  place  we  tend ; 
The  world's  an  inn,  and  death  the  journey's  end.  2100 
Even  kings  but  play,  and  when  their  part  is  done, 
Some  other,  worse  or  better,  mount  the  throne. 
With  words  like  these  the  crowd  was  satisfied; 
<And  so  they  would  have  been,  had  Theseus  died. 
But  he,  their  King,  was  labouring  in  his  mind         sies 
A  fitting  place  for  funeral  pomps  to  find, 
Which  were  in  honour  of  the  dead  designed. 
And,  after  long  debate,  at  last  he  found 
(As  Love  itself  had  marked  the  spot  of  ground,) 
That  grove  for  ever  green,  that  conscious  laund,      2:70 
Where  he  with  Palamon  fought  hand  to  hand; 
That,  where  he  fed  his  amorous  desires 
With  soft  complaints,  and  felt  his  hottest  fires, 
There  other  flames  might  waste  his  earthly  part, 

2159  (1989).— 

This  world  nis  but  a  thurghfare  ful  of  wo, 
And  we  ben  pilgrimes,  passinge  to  and  fro; 
Deeth  is  an  ende  of  every  worldly  sore. 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  135 

2175  And  burn  his  limbs,  where  love  had  burned  his 

heart. 

This  once  resolved,  the  peasants  were  enjoined 
Sere-wood,  and  firs,  and  doddered  oaks  to  find. 
With  sounding  axes  to  the  grove  they  go, 
Fell,  split,  and  lay  the  fuel  in  a  row ; 

2180  Vulcanian  food:  a  bier  is  next  prepared, 
On  which  the  lifeless  body  should  be  reared, 
Covered  with  cloth  of  gold ;  on  which  was  laid 
The  corps  of  Arcite,  in  like  robes  arrayed. 
White  gloves  were  on  his  hands,  and  on  his  head 

2185  A  wreath  of  laurel,  mixed  with  myrtle,  spread. 
A  sword  keen-edged  within  his  right  he  held, 
The  warlike  emblem  of  the  conquered  field : 
Bare  was  his  manly  visage  on  the  bier ; 
Menaced  his  countenance,  even  in^death  severe. 

2190  Then  to  the  palace-hall  they  bore  the  knight, 
To  lie  in  solemn  state,  a  public  sight : 
Groans,  cries,  and  howlings  fill  the  crowded  place, 
And  unaffected  sorrow  sat  on  every  face. 
Sad  Palamon  above  the  rest  appears, 

2195  In  sable  garments,  dewed  with  gushing  tears ; 
His  auburn  locks  on  either  shoulder  flowed, 
AVhich  to  the  funeral  of  his  friend  he  vowed ; 
But  Emily,  as  chief,  was  next  his  side, 
A  virgin-widow  and  a  mourning  bride. 

2188  (2019).— 

He1  leyde  him  bare  the  visage  on  the  here, 
Therwith  he  weep  that  pitee  was  to  here. 


'Theseus. 


13()  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

And,  that  the  princely  obsequies  might  be  2200 

Performed  according  to  his  high  degree, 

The  steed,  that  bore  him  living  to  the  fight, 

Was    trapped   with    polished    steel,    all     shining 

bright, 

And  covered  with  the  atchievements  of  the  knight. 
The  riders  rode  abreast ;  and  one  his  shield,  2205 

His  lance  of  cornel-wood  another  held; 
The  third  his  bow,  and  glorious  to  behold, 
The  costly  quiver,  all  of  burnished  gold. 
The  noblest  of  the  Grecians  next  appear, 
And  weeping  on  their  shoulders  bore  the  bier;          2210 
With  sober  pace  they  marched,  and  often  stayed, 
And  through  the  master-street  the  corps  conveyed. 
The  houses  to  their  tops  with  black  were  spread, 
And  even  the  payments  were  with  mourning  hid. 
The  right  side  of  the  pall  old  zEgeus  kept,  2215 

And  on  the  left  the  royal  Theseus  wept ; 
Each  bore  a  golden  bowl  of  work  divine, 
With  honey  filled,  and  milk,  and  mixed  with 

ruddy  wine. 

Then  Palamon  the  kinsman  of  the  slain, 
And  after  him  appeared  the  illustrious  train.  2220 

To  grace  the  pomp  came  Emily  the  bright, 
With  covered  fire,  the  funeral  pile  to  light. 
With  high  devotion  was  the  service  made, 
And  all  the  rites  of  pagan  honour  paid: 
So  lofty  was  the  pile,  a  Parthian  bow,  2225 

With  vigour  drawn,  must  send  the  shaft  below. 
The  bottom  was  full  twenty  fathom  broad, 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  137 

With  crackling  straw    beneath  in   due  proportion 
strowed. 

The  fabric  seemed  a  wood  of  rising  green, 
2230  With  sulphur  and  bitumen  cast  between 

To  feed  the  flames:  the  trees  were  unctuous  fir, 

And  mountain-ash,  the  mother  of  the  spear; 

The  mourner -yew,  and  builder-oak  were  there, 

The  beech,  the  swimming  alder,  and  the  plane, 
2-235  Hard  box,  and  linden  of  a  softer  grain, 

And  laurels,  which  the  gods  for  conquering  chiefs 
ordain . 

How  they  were  ranked  shall  rest  untold  by  me, 
ith  nameless  Nymphs  that  lived  in  every  tree ; 

Nor  how  the  Dryads  and  the  woodland  train, 
2340  Disherited,  ran  howling  o'er  the  plain: 

Nor  how  the  birds  to  foreign  seats  repaired, 

Or  beasts  that  bolted  out  and  saw  the  forest  bared : 

Nor   how  the  ground   now  cleared  with   ghastly 
fright 

Beheld  the  sudden  sun,  a  stranger  to  the  light. 
*245      The  straw,  as  first  I  said,  was  laid  below : 

Of  chips  and  sere-wood  was  the  second  row ; 

The  third  of  greens,  and  timber  newly  felled ; 

The  fourth  high  stage  the  fragrant  odours  held, 

And  pearls,  and  precious  stones,  and  rich  array, 
2-250  In  midst  of  which,  embalmed,  the  body  lay. 

2241  (2071).— 

Ne  how  the  bestes  and  the  briddes1  alle 
Fledden  for  fere,  whan  the  wode  was  falle. 


Birds. 


138  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

The  service  sung,  the  maid  with  mourning  eyes 

The  stubble  fired ;  the  smouldering  flames  arise  : 

This  office  done,  she  sunk  upon  the  ground ; 

But  what  she  spoke,  recovered  from  her  swound, 

I  want  the  wit  in  moving  words  to  dress ;  2255 

But  by  themselves  the  tender  sex  may  guess. 

While  the  devouring  fire  was  burning  fast, 

Rich  jewels  in  the  flame  the  wealthy  cast ; 

And  some  their   shields,   and   some    their   lances 

threw, 

And  gave  the  warrior's  ghost  a  warrior's  due.  2o60 

Full  bowls  of  wine,  of  honey,  milk  and  blood 
Were  poured  upon  the  pile  of  burning  wood, 
And  hissing  flames  receive,  and  hungry  lick  the 

food. 

Then  thrice  the  mounted  squadrons  ride  around 
The  fire,  and  Arcite's  name  they  thrice  resound:      2265 
44 Hail  and  farewell!"  they  shouted  thrice  amain, 
Thrice  facing  to  the  left,  and  thrice  they  turned 

again : 
Still,  as  they   turned,  they  beat  their  clattering 

shields ; 
The  women  mix  their  cries ;  and  clamour  fills  the 

fields. 

The  warlike  wakes  continued  all  the  night,  22~o 

And  funeral  games  were  played  at  new  returning 

light: 

AVho  naked  wrestled  best,  besmeared  with  oil, 
Or  who  with  gauntlets  gave  or  took  the  foil, 
I  will  not  tell  you,  nor  would  you  attend; 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  139 

2275  But  briefly  haste  to  my  long  story's  end. 

I  pass  the  rest ;  the  year  was  fully  mourned, 
And  Palamon  long  since  to  Thebes  returned : 
When,  by  the  Grecians'  general  consent, 
At  Athens  Theseus  held  his  parliament ; 
2280  Among  the  laws  that  passed,  it  was  decreed, 

That  conquered  Thebes  from  bondage  should  be 

freed ; 

Reserving  homage  to  the  Athenian  throne, 
To  which  the  sovereign  summoned  Palamon. 
Unknowing  of  the  cause,  he  took  his  way, 
2285  Mournful  in  mind,  and  still  in  black  array. 

The  monarch  mounts  the  throne,  and,  placed  on 

high, 

Commands  into  the  court  the  beauteous  Emily. 
So  called,  she  came;  the  senate  rose,  and  paid 
Becoming  reverence  to  the  royal  maid. 
2290  And  first,  soft    whispers    through    the   assembly 

went ; 

With  silent  wonder  then  they  watched  the  event ; 
All  hushed,  the  King  arose  with  awful  grace ; 
Deep  thought  was  in  his  breast,  and  counsel  in  his 

face: 

At  length  he  sighed,  and  having  first  prepared 
2'>93  The  attentive  audience,  thus  his  will  declared: 

"The  Cause  and  Spring  of  motion  from  above 
Hung  down  on  earth  the  golden  chain  of  Love ; 
Great  was  the  effect,  and  high  was  his  intent, 
When  peace  among  the  jarring  seeds  he  sent ; 
2?oo  Fire,  flood,  and  earth  and  air  by  this  were  bound. 


140  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

And    Love,  the   common   link,  the  new  creation 

crowned. 

The  chain  still  holds;  for  though  the  forms  decay, 
Eternal  matter  never  wears  away : 

_,The  same  first  mover  certain  bounds  has  placed, 
How  long  those  perishable  forms  shall  last ;  2305 

Nor  can  they  last  beyond  the  time  assigned 

*  By  that  all -seeing  and  all -making  Mind : 
Shorten  their  hours  they  may,  for  will  is  free, 
But  never  pass  the  appointed  destiny. 
To  men  oppressed,  when  weary  of  their  breath,         2310 
Throw  off  the  burden,  and  suborn  their  death. 
Then,  since  those  forms  begin,  and  have  their  end, 
On  some  unaltered  cause  they  sure  depend : 
Parts  of  the  whole  are  we,  but  God  the  whole, 
Who  gives  us  life,  and  animating  soul.  2315 

For  Nature  cannot  from  apart  derive 
That  being  which  the  whole  can  only  give : 
He  perfect,  stable ;  but  imperfect  we, 
Subject  to  change,  and  different  in  degree ; 
Plants,  beasts,  and  man;  and,  as  our  organs  are,      2320 
TVe  more  or  less  of  his  perfection  share. 
But,  by  a  long  descent  the  ethereal  fire 
Corrupts;  and  forms,  the  mortal  part,  expire. 
As  he  withdraws  his  virtue,  so  they  pass 
And  the  same  matter  makes  another  mass :  2.335 


2300  (2133).— 

For  with  that  faire  cheyne  of  love  he  bond 
The  fyr,  the  eyr,  the  water,  and  the  lond 
In  certevn  boundes,  that  tliev  raav  nat  flee. 


PALAMOX  AND  ARCITE 


Tliis   law  the  omniscient   Power   was   pleased   to 
give, 

That  every  kind  should  by  succession  live  ; 

That  individuals  die,  his  will  ordains  ; 

The  propagated  species  still  remains. 
2330  The  monarch  oak,  the  patriarch  of  the  trees, 

Shoots  rising  up,  and  spreads  by  slow  degrees  ; 

Three  centuries  he  grows,  and  three  he  stays, 

Supreme  in  state,  and  in  three  more  decays  : 

So  wears  the  paving  pebble  in  the  street, 
2335  And  towns  and  towers  their  fatal  periods  meet  : 

So  rivers,  rapid  once,  now  naked  lie, 

Forsaken     of    their     springs,     and     leave     their 
channels  dry. 

Man  struggles  into  breath,  and  cries  for  aid; 

Then  helpless  in  his  mother's  lap  is  laid. 

He  creeps,  he  walks,  and  issuing  into  man, 
2345  Grudges  their  life  from  whence  his  own  began  ; 

Reckless  of  laws,  affects  to  rule  alone, 

Anxious  to  reign,  and  restless  on  the  throne  : 

First  vegetive,  then  feels,  and  reasons  last; 

Iiich  of  three  souls,  and  lives  all  three  to  waste. 
235*3  Some  thus;  but  thousands  more  in  flower  of  age, 

For  few  arrive  to  run  the  latter  stage. 

Sunk  in  the  first,  in  battle  some  are  slain, 

And  others  whelmed  beneath  the  stormy  main. 

What  makes  all  this,  but  Jupiter  the  king, 
23*5  At  whose  command  we  perish,  and  we  spring? 

Then  'tis  our  best,  since  thus  ordained  to  die, 


PALAMON  AND  AKOiTE 

To  make  a  virtue  of  necessity; 

Take  what  he  gives,  since  to  rebel  is  vain; 

The  bad  grows  better,  which  we  well  sustain; 

And  could  we  choose,  the  time,  and  choose  aright,  2360 

*Tis  best  to  die,  our  honour  at  the  height. 

When  we  have  done  our  ancestors  no  shame, 

But  served  our  friends,  and  well  secured  our  fame; 

Then  should  we  wish  our  happy  life  to  close, 

And  leave  no  more  for  fortune  to  dispose ;  23*5 

So  should  we  make  our  death  a  glad  relief 

From  future  shame,  from  sickness,  and  from  grief; 

Enjoying  while  we  live  the  present  hour, 

And  dying  in  our  excellence  and  flower. 

Then  round  our  death -bed  every  friend  should  run,  23:0 

And  joy  us  of  our  conquest  early  won ; 

While  the  malicious  world,  with  envious  tears, 

Should  grudge  our  happy  end,  and  wish  it  theirs. 

Since  then  our  Arciie  is  with  honour  dead, 

Why  should  we  mourn,  that  he  so  soon  is  freed,       2375 

Or  call  untimely  what  the  gods  decreed? 

With  grief  as  just  a  friend  may  be  deplored, 

From  a  foul  prison  to  free  air  restored. 

Ought  he  to  thank  his  kinsman  or  his  wife, 

Could  tears  recall  him  into  wretched  life?  23*0 

Their  sorrow  hurts  themselves;  on  him  is  lost, 

And  worse  than  both,  offends  his  happy  ghost. 

What  then  remains,  but  after  past  annoy 

To  take  the  good  vicissitude  of  joy ; 

To  thank  the  gracious  gods  for  what  they  give,        2381 

Possess  our  souls,  and,  while  we  live,  to  live? 


PALAMON  AND  ARCITE  143 

Ordain  we  then  two  sorrows  to  combine, 

And  in  one  point  the  extremes  of  grief  to  join ; 

That  thence  resulting  joy  may  be  renewed, 

2390  As  jarring  notes  in  harmony  conclude. 
Then  I  propose  that  Palamon  shall  be 
In  marriage  joined  with  beauteous  Emily ; 
For  which  already  I  have  gained  the  assent 
Of  my  free  people  in  full  parliament. 

2395  Long  love  to  her  has  borne  the  faithful  knight, 
And  well   deserved,  had  Fortune  done  him  right : 
'Tis  time  to  mend  her  fault,  since  Emily 
By  Arcite's  death  from  former  vows  is  free; 
If  you,  fair  sister,  ratify  the  accord, 

2400  And  take  him  for  your  husband  and  your  lord, 
'Tis  no  dishonour  to  confer  your  grace 
On  one  descended  from  a  royal  race ; 
And  were  he  less,  yet  years  of  service  past 
From  grateful  souls  exact  reward  at  last. 

2405  Pity  is  Heaven's  and  yours ;  nor  can  she  find 
A  throne  so  soft  as  in  a  woman's  mind." 
He  said;  she  blushed;  and  as  o'er  awed  by  might, 
Seemed    to    give    Theseus    what    she    gave    the 

knight. 
Then,  turning  to  the  Theban,  thus  he  said  : 

2410  "Small  arguments  are  needful  to  persuade 
Your  temper  to  comply  with  my  command : ' ' 
And  speaking  thus,  he  gave  Emilia's  hand. 

2387  (2213). — I  rede  that  we  make,  of  sorwes  two, 
O  parfyt  loye,  lasting  evere-mo. I 


1  More. 


1  44  PALAMON  AND  ARCITE 

Smiled  VenVfis,  to  behold  her  own  true  knight 
Obtain  the  conquest,  though  he  lost  the  fight. 

All  of  a  tenor  was  their  after-life, 

No  day  discoloured  with  domestic  strife ; 

No  jealousy,  but  mutual  truth  believed, 

Secure  repose,  and  kindness  undeceived. 

Thus  Heaven,  beyond  the  compass  of  his  thought, 

Sent  him  the  blessing  he  so  dearly  bought.  242(p 

So  may  the  Queen  of  Love  long  duty  bless, 
And  all  true  lovers  find  the  same  success. 

2413(2239).— 

And  thus  with  alle  blisse  and  melodye 

Hath  Palamon  y-wedded  Emelye. 

And  God,  that  al  this  wyde  world  hath  wroglit, 

Sende  him  his  love,  that  hath  it  dere  a-boght. 

For  now  is  Palamon  in  alle  wele, 

Living  in  blisse,  in  richesse,  and  in  hele  j1 

And  Emelye  him  loveth  so  tendrely, 

And  he  hir  servetli  al-so  gentilly, 

That  nevere  was  ther  no  word  hem  bitwene 

Of  lelousye,  or  any  other  tene. 2 

Thus  endeth  Palamon  and  Emelye , 

And  God  save  al  this  faire  compaignye ! 


'Health,      'Annoyance. 


NOTES  ON  DRYDEN'S  DEDICATION  TO 
THE  DUCHESS  OF  ORMOND 

It  was  the  fashion  in  Dryden's  time,  as  it  had  been  the 
fashion  for  years  before  and  continued  to  be  for  years  after- 
ward, for  poets  to  dedicate  their  writings  to  the  sovereign 
or  to  some  great  noble.  Men  who  wrote  were  not  as  well 
paid  and  therefore  not  as  independent  in  the  old  times  as 
now.  They  were  brought  into  notice  by  the  praise  of 
some  great  man  to  whom  they  had  dedicated  a  book  or 
essay  or  poem,  and  they  were  often  supported-  by  the 
money  which  great  men  paid  for  these  dedications. 
Therefore  authors  were  tempted  to  be  fulsome  in  their 
praise  of  their  patrons,  whose  vanity  was  often  touched  by 
what  seems  to  us  now  the  most  inexcusable  flattery.  Dry- 
den  was  no  exception  to  his  class,  as  the  dedication  of  this 
poem  shows. 

The  Duchess  of  Ormond  was  the  daughter  of  Henry 
Beaufort,  who  was  descended  from  John  of  Gaunt.  She 
therefore  had  Plantagenet  blood  in  her  veins.  Dryden  dedi- 
cated his'Book  of  Fables  to  the  Duke  of  Ormond,  and  then 
added  the  special  dedication  of  this  poem  to  the  Duchess. 

Line  4.  Chaucer's  poem  was  so  good  as  to  make  it 
doubtful  whether  he  or  Vergil  deserved  the  palm. 

7.  Ormond.  It  is  usual  to  speak  of  a  nobleman  in  this 
way  without  prefixing  his  title  of  rank,  but  unusual  to 
speak  so  of  a  peeress. 

11.    Idea.    Ideal,  i.  e.,  of  womanhood. 

15.    Princes  is  the  object  of  made. 

18.  Noblest  order.  The  Order  of  the  Garter.  The  story 
of  the  founding  of  that  Ordsr  by  Edward  III.  is  that  the 
Fair  Maid  of  Kent,  then  the  Countess  of  Salisbury,  dropped 
her  garter  while  dancing,  and  that  the  King,  picking  it  up, 

145 


14C  NOTES 

put  it  on  his  own  knee,  saying:  .Hunt  soit  qnt  rnal  y  poise. 
(Evil  to  him  who  evil  thinks). 

29.  Platonic  year.  The  year  in  which  the  stars  were 
supposed  to  return  to  the  places  from  which  they  originally 
started.  These  years  were  supposed  to  occur  after  a  period 
of  about  26,000  years.  The  idea  is  that  the  Duchess  of 
Ormond  holds  the  same  important  place  in  the  life  of  Dry- 
deu's  time  that  the  "fair  Plantagenet"  did  in  Chaucer's 
time . 

31.  Fatal.  Fated.  The  house  of  Plantagenet  is  destined 
to  be  beautiful. 

42.  Grants  of  land  in  Ireland  had  been  made  to  the 
Duke  of  Ormond.  The  Duke  and  the  Duchess  had  accord- 
ingly gone  to  Ireland,  the  Duchess  preceding  her  husband, 
as  is  indicated  by  line  54. 

58.  Kerns.     The  Irish  name  for  light-armed  infantry. 
V.  Macbeth,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2. 

59.  Hear    the    reins.      Imitation    of    Latin    expression 
audire  hdbenas,  meaning  to  listen  to  and  obey  authority* 

G3.  As  the  morning-star  heralds  the  sun,  so  she  heralded 
her  husband's  coming. 

64.  The  battles  of  the  Revolution  of  1688  were  fought  in 
Ireland. 

66-     One  triumphant  d'uj.     The  day  of  her  arrival. 

7O.    V.     Genesis  viii. 

72.     Relics  of  mankind.     Noah  and  his  family. 

81.  Millenary  year.  The  millennium.  The  suggestion  is 
that  the  coming  of  the  Duchess  is  comparable  to  the  coming 
of  Christ.  As  her  first  coming  cured  the  wounds  of  war, 
her  second  coming  will  cause  the  earth  to  bring  forth  crops 
without  cultivation. 

87.  Some  traditions  have  it  that  there  never  were  rep- 
tiles in  Ireland,  others  that  St.  Patrick  destroyed  them  at 
an  early  day. 

9O.  This  interval.  The  Duchess  had  returned  to  Eng- 
land for  a  time. 

99.     The  dove.     The  dove  sent  from  Noah's  ark. 

1O7-1O.  Make  the  four  lines  the  first  half  of  a  simile 
And  supply  the  second  half  b^  giving  the  application  of  the 
thought  to  the  Duchess. 


NOTES  147 

117.  Four  ingredients.  Earth,  air,  fire  and  water,  the 
i:our  elements  of  which  the  ancients  thought  the  universe 
to  be  composed. 

128.  Had  she  died,  Dryden,  out  of  gratitude  to  her, 
would  have  written  her  elegy,  though  he  would  have  de- 
tested the  thought  of  her  death. 

i3O.  The  poem  shows  his  vow  to  dedicate  a  poem  to  her 
as  plainly  as  though  it  were  a  tablet  on  which  the  words  of 
the  vow  were  written. 

1 ,458.  It  was  less  expensive  for  Heaven  to  preserve  the 
Duchess  than  to  make  another  woman  of  such  exquisite  parts. 

139.  Middle  science.      Between  the   knowledge  of  the 
physician  and  that  of  Heaven. 

1 4O.  Contingent.     Probable. 

1 43.    Ormonds  is  the  object  of  to  Jwld. 

145.  Is  may  the  correct  form  after  the  past  tense  med i- 
tatedf  Kind,  race  family. 

148.  First  and  last  of  each  degree.  The  highest  and 
the  lowest  person  in  each  class  of  society. 

15O.  The  Graces.  The  three  goddesses  of  grace,  beauty 
and  joy,  attend  the  Duchess  when  she  is  well.  His  power, 
of  song,  that  is,  his  Muse,  has  also  come  back  to  him. 

152.  Red  and  white.     The  red  rose  was  the  symbol  of 
the  House  of  Lancaster,  the  white  of  the  House  of  York. 
The  Duchess  belonged  to  the  House  of  Lancaster. 

153.  Who  for  which  ^  referring  to  cheeks. 

1O4.    The  Duchess  had  three  daughters,  but  no  son. 


NOTES  ON  THE  TEXT 


Whenever  the  word;  phrase  or  passage  commented  on  is  Dryden's  a 
capital  Dis  used  after  it;  whenever  it  is  Chaucer's,  closely  translated, 
«  capital  C  is  used;  when  Dryden  translates  Chaucer's  thought  freely 
no  letter  is  used. 

Comments  on  proper  names  are  given  in  the  Glossary. 

ABBREVIATIONS— V.  vide;  see  or  consult,  Cf.  confer;  compare.  Bed. 
Dryden's  Dedication. 

1-6.  Notice  the  greater  simplicity  of  Chaucer's  wording. 
Pick  out  in  Dryden's  lines  the  phrases  like  of  mighty 
f«me,  which  have  no  parallel  in  Chaucer's.  Scan  1.  2.  in 
each  version  for  the  pronunciation  of  Theseus. 

12.  D.  Is  the  mixture  of  the  figurative  meaning  of  this 
line  with  the  literal  meaning  of  the  next  line  artistic? 

16-23.  C.  The  events  mentioned  are  the  subject  of  the 
first  book  of  Boccaccio's  Teseide;  as  they  are  only  indirectly 
related  to  the  story  of  Palamoii  and  Arcite,  Chaucer  shows 
his  artistic  sense  by  leaving  them  out. 

3O-33.  C.  A  reference  to  the  fact  that  the  Canterbury 
pilgrims,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  host  of  the  Tabard  Inn, 
who  went  with  them  and  acted  as  their  guide,  had  promised 
a  supper  at  the  common  cost  to  the  one  of  their  number  who 
should  tell  the  best  storj^.  Unfortunately  the  Canterbury- 
Tales  were  never  finished,  and  we  consequently  do  not 
know  which  story  the  company  liked  best. 

36.  D.  The  knight  is  courteous  enough  to  hope  that 
some  one  else  will  tell  a  better  story  than  his. 

4 1 .  Quire.  D.  The  same  in  derivation  as  our  word  choir  , 
a  company  of  people,  not  necessarily  singers,  and  not  limited 
to  any  definite  number. 

48.    D.    Is  the  line  effective?    What  word  spoils  it? 

5O.  Weeds.  D.  Originally  not  restricted  to  mourning. 
Look  up  its  derivation. 

148 


NOTES  149 

56.  Swounded.   D.    Svvowned,  C.    Old  forms  <>:  swooned. 

57.  Nor.    Neither. 

64.    D.    What  is  the  effect  of  the  Alexandrine? 

69.  Modern  idiom  would  require  u  Thanks  to  Chance  we 
were  cast,"  etc.  Cf.  Chaucer's  line.  In  both  cases,  what  is 
the  figure?  Which  line  gives  the  figure  more  vividly? 

7 1 .    Chaucer  says  definitely  "  a  fourtenight." 

79.  To  make.  Making.  Have  is  omitted  before  lost; 
what  then  is  the  construction  of  rest,  1.  78,  and  lord*  1 

81.  D.  Notice  that  Dry  den's  phrase  is  more  condensed 
than  Chaucer's. 

94.    As.     As  if. 

98.  Crew.  D.  A  more  general  and  dignified  word  in 
Dry  den's  time  than  now. 

1OO.    The  knight's  oath  was  to  "protect  the  distressed, 
maintain  right  against  might,  and  never  by  word  or  deed  to« 
stain  his  character  as  a  knight  or  a  Christian."     V.   article 
on  Knights  in  International  Cyclopedia. 

1O9.  Argent.  D.  Derivation?  Notice  that  the  word  be- 
longs to  the  science  of  heraldry,  which  had  not  been  fully 
developed  in  Chaucer's  time.  For  perfect  construction,  the 
clauses  which  follow  where  should  be  subordinate;  Where 
the  God  of  TFar,  Mars,  was  drawn  .  .  with  his  .  .  . 
attire  so  aglow  that  the  red  light  was  reflected  on  the  grass. 

115.  Pennon.  The  ensign  which  all  knights  had 
a  right  to  carry.  It  was  often  a  narrow  streamer,  and 
was  always  pointed  or  forked  at  the  end.  The  banner 
was  a  square  ensign,  borne  before  the  king  or  leader  in 
battle. 

117.  Generous  rage.  D.  Generous,  noble;  rn0e,  enthus- 
iasm, zeal. 

123.  Here,  again,  Chaucer  cuts  out  a  whole  book  of  the 
Tcseide. 

132.  Howling.  A  notable  instance  of  Dryden's  occa- 
sional poor  taste  in  the  use  of  words;  even  Chaucer's  word, 
" clamour,"  is  not  altogether  pleasant. 

138.  D.  What  word  in  the  sentence  shows  that  burned 
must  be  a  verb  and  not  a  participle  ? 

142.  They.  Theseus's  soldiers.  143.  They.  Palamon 
and  Arcite.  Sent  should  be  had  sent.  Was  it  natural  that 


150  NOTES 


the  young  kuights  should  be  lying  under  the  bodies  of  those 
whom  they  had  killed  ?     v 

141-54.  What  line  in  the  passage  tells  something 
which  Theseusvs  followers  could  not  then  have  known '  Does 
it  weaken  the  description  ? 

159.  D.  The  expression  is  too  condensed,  because  the 
ideas  that  the  knights  were  found  to  belong  to  Creon's 
family,  and  that  they  were  carefully  nursed  until  they  were 
well,  are  too  unlike  to  belong  in  a  single  phrase.  Technic- 
ally, therefore,  the  sentence  lacks  unity  of  thought. 

1 69.  C.  The  first  day  of  May,  which  Chaucer  liked  bet- 
ter than  any  other  day  in  the  year. 

1  75.     V.  Mhlxnmmer  Night' s  Dream,  Act  I,  Sc.  1. 

177.  The  observance  of  May-day  used  to  be  preceded  in 
England  by  an  all-night  revel,  in  which  every  one  shared. 

197.  Sung.  In  Dryden's  day  the  form  of  the  past  tense 
in  u  was  used  where  we  now  use  the  form  \un.  Notice  the 
frequent  examples  in  the  poem. 

2O4.    D.    The  palace  was  a  whole  group  of  buildings,  buil 
about  a  central  open  space.    In  this  open  court  was  the 
garden.     The  buildings,  of  which  the  tower  was  one,  ad- 
joined, making  a  continuous  wall  about  the  court.     Partition 
is,  therefore,  used  here  in  the  sense  of  section. 

214.  D.  Literal  or  derived  meaning  of  hateful?  Why  is 
it  an  anachronism  to  speak  of  temples  in  Athens  having 
spires '( 

232.  D.     Scan  the   line   and  notice  that  the  break  in 
rhythm  serves  to  emphasize  the  thought.     What  does  iner- 
•i table  mean  ? 

233.  Love  at  first  sight  was  the  rule  and  not  the  excep- 
tion, in  times  of  chivalry.     The  knight  chose  his   lady  for 
her  beauty  without  waiting  to   learn  her  disposition   or 
character. 

244.  Both  Chaucer  and  Dryden  vacillate  between  the 
idea  that  the  universe  is  ruled  by  God  and  the  idea  that  it  is 
ruled  by  Fate  or  Destiny.     Dryden  makes  the  idea  of  Fate 
rather  more  prominent  than  Chaucer  does,  but  explains  in 
lines  819-823  that  he  considers  Fate  is  in  accord  with  the 
will  of  God. 

245.  Horoscope.      The  diagram  of  the  heavens  at  the 


NOTES  151 

time  of  a  person's  birth,  from  which  astrologers  foretold 
the  events  of  that  person's  life.  V.  Dictionary. 

267.  Dungeon.  Astrologers  divided  the  heavens  into 
twelve  "  houses "  by  means  of  twelve  great  circles,  inter- 
secting the  north  and  south  poles  of  the  heavens.  Some  of 
these  houses  were  fortunate  and  some  unfortunate  in  their 
influence.  Saturn,  the  most  unlucky  planet,  in  the  "  dun- 
geon of  the  sky,"  that  is.  the  most  unlucky  house,  would 
portend  great  evil. 

272.  Fatal  dart.  D.  The  reference  is,  of  course,  to  the 
fact  that  Cupid,  the  god  of  lovo.  wounds  his  victims  with 
arrows  sent  from  his  golden  bow. 

282-3 1O.  What  two  points  does  Palamon  make  in 
arguing  his  own  better  right  to  Emily  * 

292.  D.  That  one  slinuldljc .  etc.  That  each  should  share 
his  good  fortune  with  the  other. 

299.  On  the  plain.     D.     In  open  fight. 

300.  Appeach.     D.     Impeach. 

«il  1-51.  With  what  three  points  does  Arcite  reply  to 
Palamon's  two?  Does  he  succeed  in  making  the  worse  ap- 
pear the  better  reason  ? 

33O.  D.  Love's  power,  which  nature  gives,  is  the  sanc- 
tion for  any  unfairness  committed  in  the  cause  of  love. 

.'542-45.  C.  Is  the  simile  an  appropriate  illustration  if 
The  full  form  would  be,  We  plead  our  right  as  JEsop's 
hounds  did  when  they  contended.  .  .  .  but  fruitlessly, 
for  a  cur,  .  .  .  Notice  that  1.  344-345  should  be  subordinate 
clauses. 

382.  D.     Finds  his  purchase  dear.     Why  ? 

383.  In  prison  pent.    D.     Either,    I  who  was   in  prison 
pent,  or,  I  who  am  still  in  prixon  pent. 

387.  D.  The  condition  of  which  1.  388  is  the  conclusion. 
What  is  the  construction  of  forced  ? 

39O.  D.  An  example  of  the  sacrifice  of  sense  to  rhyme. 
Besides  is  not  merely  unnecessary ;  it  contradicts  the  idea 
already  expressed. 

399.  Adventure.    D.    Chance  for  adventure  or  knightly 
deed. 

400.  D.     Expand  the  metaphor  into  a  simile. 

4O4.    D.     What  do  poets   mean  by  the  not  uncommon 


1 52  NOTES 

phrase  u  Love's  extremity"  ?  Di\\deif  s  thought  would  have 
been  well  expressed  by  that  phrase. 

414.     And  for  nor. 

42O-41.  C.  Arcite  is  enough  of  a  philosopher  to  enjoy 
making  a  generalization  from  his  own  case. 

427.  Guilty  of  their  vows.  D.  The  Latin  causal  geni- 
tive. Guilty  because  they  have  broken  their  vows. 

444-45.    The  false  sequence  of  tense  is  Dryden's. 

456.  Assemble  ours.     D.     Our  forces.     A  Latinism. 

457.  Why  would  avenge  be  better  than  vindicate? 
459.    D.     How  would  Emily  be  the  pledge  of  lasting  pnn-i  ? 
463.    D.     Effect  of  the  Alexandrine? 

474.     Wliat.     In  what. 

483.  D.     Why  is  fortune  called  giddy  f 

484.  D.     Our  estate  (state)  is  worse  than  that  of  beasts. 
485-96.    A  somewhat  unfair  argument,  since  the  fact 

that  man  is  capable  of  higher  forms  of  pleasure  than  the 
beast  is  left  out  of  the  account. 

493.     Forelays.     D.     Waylays. 

495.     Thrids.     D.     Threads. 

5OO.  A  quartil  D.  An  angle  of  90  degrees.  Planets  at 
this  angle  were  supposed  to  beat  cross  purposes,  and,  there- 
fore, to  cause  trouble.  Notice  that  Mars  represents  jeal- 
ousy and  Venus  love. 

5O4.    By  this.     D.     By  this  time. 

515.  D.  This  playing  upon  words  was  thought  in  Dry- 
den's  time  to  add  to  the  beauty  of  poetry.  Pope,  who  fol- 
lowed Dryden  both  in  time  and  method,  carried  the  fashion 
to  great  extremes. 

524-25.  Dryden  probably  stated  this  idea  in  all  serious- 
ness as  a  physiological  truth. 

531.    Boxen.   D.   An  old  adjective  form.    Of  the  box-tree. 

537.  Swound.     Swoon. 

538.  Deaf  murmurs.     D.     The  thought  is  not  very  clear 
because  two  distinct,  though  similar,  ideas  are  combined, 
namely  that  he  hears  sounds  as  though  they  were  at  a  great 
distance,  and  that  he  hears  sounds  as  mere  murmurs,  as  a 
deaf  person  would.  , 

539-42.  Cf.  Rosalind's  description  of  the  appearance 
of  an  ardent  lover,  in  Ax  You  Like  If,  Act  III.  Sc.  2. 


NOTES  153 

542.     Rage.     D.     Madness. 

55O.  Sleep-compelling  rod.  D.  Notice  the  expressive 
phrase.  V.  Dictionary  under  caduceus. 

554.  Like  the  word  of  the  gods  given  by  oracles,  the 
speech  carries  a  hidden  meaning;  Arcite's  death  is  hinted 
at. 

576.     Show  that  consc'ioii*  is  a  poorly  chosen  word. 

578.  Is  there  any  singli*  adjective  which  could  be  sub- 
stituted for  thick  ? 

584.    Still.    Always. 

59O.  PMlostratus.  The  literal  meaning  from  the  Greek 
would  be  "fond  of  the  army/' 

593-94.  Blown.  D.  Another  case  where  a  poor  word  is 
chosen  because  of  the  rhyme. 

601.  D.    Although  he  was  only  a  menial  at  first. 

602.  D.     Largely  entertained.     Liberally  paid. 
6O6.    Grammatical  error  '. 

BOOK  II 

620.  The  Twins.    D.     The  sign  of  the  zodiac  called  the 
Twins. 

621.  V.  note  on  1.  244. 

624.    Chaucer  says  "thethridde  (third)  night." 
644.     Style.    D.    Pen.     Derivation  ? 
651.     Tepid.     D.     An  unusual  descriptive  word. 
661.     Against  in  the  sense  of    toward   brings    to  mind 
Chaucer's  lines  about    the  daisy  in  the  Legende  of  Good 

Women. 

— tlier  daweth1  me  no  day 
That  I  nam2  up,  and  walking  in  the  mede 
.  To  seen  this  flour  agein3  the  sonne  sprede. 

668.  The  sultry  tropic.  D.  The  Tropic  of  Cancer,  the 
northern  limit  of  the  sun's  course.  When  the  sun  reaches 
that  point  the  days  are  longest. 

68O.    But  for  than. 

692.  C.    Is  the  simile  a  happy  one  ? 

694.  Friday  is  named  for  Freya,  the  goddess  of  Northern 
mythology  who  corresponds  to  Venus. 

1I)awneth.    2 Am  not.    "Against. 


154  NOTES 

7O3.  D.  Cf.  JEneid  IT,  ;W5,   rnit  Ilium. 

713.  That  $ide  of  heaven.  D.  Jupiter  and  Juno  did  not 
always  agree,  and  were  leaders  of  two  factions  in  the  family 
of  the  gods.  Mars  and  Vulcan  sided  with  Juno,  and  Venus 
with  Jupiter.  Notice,  as  the  story  advances,  how  one 
nidc  of  heaven  is  interested  for  Palamon  and  the  other  for 
Arcite. 

718.  Was  Palamon  imprisoned  because  he  was  kin  to 
Arcite  \ 

722.  D.     uTo  fry1'  and  "to  hiss7'  are  verbs  of  ten  used 
by  the  poets  of  the  seventeenth  century  to  describe  a  lover's 
emotions. 

723.  D.     Love  is  destroying  him  now,  as  Juno's  hatred 
has  before. 

726.  D.  No  goddess  ever  burned  her  temple,  yet  Emily 
burns  his  heart. 

73O.  His  ears  ring  inward.  D.  There  is  a  ringing  in  his 
ears. 

736.    D.     Discovered  is  used  in  its  literal  sense. 

742.  D.  Cf.  the  meaning  of  beguile  here  with  the  mean- 
ing in  1.  643. 

757.  G.  Arcite  renounces  all  his  early  pledges  of  friend- 
ship. 

76O.    Notice  the  substantive  use  of  the  adjective. 

763.   D.    Expand  the  metaphor  in  titles  to  a  simile. 

771.  D.  Does  the  line  add  to  the  effect  of  the  passage, 
or  detract  from  it  ? 

775.    Each  had  left  his  promise  to  be  redeemed. 

791.  C.    State  the  full  simile. 

792.  D.  Hopes.     Hopes  for,  awaits. 

798.     Generous  chillness.     D.     Noble  coolness  or  courage. 

8O6.    Foin.    D.    Thrust. 

817.  Notice  the  broken  construction;  and  make  the  fon-xt 
ring,  etc.,  would  have  carried  out  the  structure  consist- 
ently. 

824-31.  One  would  think  that  Dry  den  had  been 
studying  Calvinism  had  not  Chaucer  expressed  a  similar 
thought. 

838.  Lively  green.  D.  Cf.  "living  green,"  a  common 
phrase  in  modern  poetry. 


NOTES  155 

845.  Laand.  C.  Etymologically  the  same  as  lawn,  but 
meaning  a  glade,  i.  e.,  an  open  space  in  the  wood. 

851.  Looking  underneath  the  sun.  G.  Perhaps  means 
definitely  that  he  looked  toward  the  east. 

854.     Fauchions.     Falchions. 

869.  Unasked  the  royal  grant.  D.  Is  the  use  of  the 
nominative  absolute  to  exjiress  a  condition  common  in 
English  '? 

879.    Scan. 

902.  D.     Supply  is. 

9O9.  V.  Chaucer's  lines.  Neither  version  credits  Pala- 
mon  with  an  ideal  spirit,  but  in  which  is  he  less  magnani- 
mous ? 

924.  The  contended  maid,  i.  c.  Emily.  D.  In  modern 
English  the  passive  voice  of  this  verb  is  not  used  with  a 
personal  subject. 

926-33.  D.    Chaucer  has  no  parallel  lines. 

928.    Mastership.     D.    Masterpiece. 

93O.     T/iey,  i.  e.,  the  wounds. 

937.     Grace.     D.     Forgiveness. 

948.     He    .     .     .     he.     Palamon    .     .     .     Theseus. 

95O.  Under.  D.  Down.  Notice  that  the  phrase  "  to 
look  down  with  the  eyes"  follows  the  Latin  rather  than  the 
Englism  idiom. 

962.  D.  Borrowed  from  the  classic  poets,  who  often 
speak  of  Jove's  **  awful  nod."  The  implication  is  that  Love 
is  as  powerful  as  Jove. 

971.  7/i  their  own  despite.  D.  Why  is  it  more  logical  to 
understand  the  phrase  here  as  meaning  to  their  wan  disad- 
vantage rather  than  in  spite  of  themselves  1 

981.    Ask.     D.    If  you  ask. 

991.  D.     Grammatical  inaccuracy  ? 

1OO8.     Both.    Both  of  you.     Why,  hut  too  well  ? 

1O18.  Every  sign,  i.  e.,  of  the  Zodiac.  D.  When  the  sun 
has  finished  his  yearly  course. 

1O23.  Give  him  such  success  that  he  shall  drive  his  foe 
out  of  the  lists. 

1O25.    Recreant.  D.     Yielding  or  cowardly. 

1O31.  D.  Of  is  the  objective  genitive;  Theseus  will  be 
the  patron  for  both  knights. 


156  NOTES 

1O55.    Decrees.    C.     Steps. 

1O57.  The  pitch  was  steep  enough  for  one  person  to  see 
over  the  head  of  the  person  in  front  of  him. 

1O72.  Why  was  it  appropriate  that  the  Temple  of  Mars 
should  be  opposite  that  of  Venus? 

1Q77.  Notice  that  an  orator//  is  primarily  a  place  of 
prayer. 

1O78.  Imagery.  D.  The  word  is  usually  applied  to  the 
rhetorical  figures  of  prose  or  poetry ;  here  it  means  images 
or  statues. 

1O8O.     Addressed.    D.     Sacred  or  dedicated. 

1O8O-11OO.  What,  in  Dryden's  picture,  could  be 
painted  and  what  could  not? 

1O93.  Sigils.  D.  Seals  on  which  were  stamped  signs  of 
the  planets  when  in  some  lucky  position.  They  were  some- 
times worn  as  talismen. 

1O97-99.  Suffused.  D.  Probably  with  color.  What  two 
words  suggest  the  color  yellow  ?  Chaucer  says  that  jealousy 
wore  a  garland  of  yellow  marigolds.  The  cuckoo  is  the 
symbol  of  deception,  perhaps  because  it  lays  its  eggs  in 
another  bird's  nest. 

1O99.  Either  down-looked  is  the  verb  for  all  the  nouns 
beginning  with  beauty  and  and  is  superfluous,  or  the  verb 
were  is  to  be  supplied  from  1087  and  down-looked  means 
down-looking. 

11O7.  D.  Chaucer  is  less  careful  to  defend  himself 
against  the  charge  of  anachronism  in  giving  the  examples 
which  follow. 

1119-2O.  Supply  that  to  make  the  clauses  correspond 
in  construction  with  those  that  precede. 

1 1 29.  Buxom.    D.    Flexible,  pliant. 

1 13O.  V.  glossary,  under  Cupid. 
1146.     Knares.     C.     Gnarls. 

1 1 49.  .  How  far  should  the  relative  clause  extend  ? 

1 15O.  D.    Imperfect  rhyme,  and  shifting  of  tenses. 
1154.    Bent.    C.     Slope. 

1155-69.  Among  other  objects  represented  in  this 
picture  on  the  wall  of  the  oratory  of  Mars  was  a  Temple  of 
Mars. 

1159.    nil  ml.     D.     Not  admitting  light. 


NOTES  157 

117O-1226.  It  is  best  to  understand  this  passage  as 
describing  the  rest  of  the  paintings  on  the  walls  of  the  ora- 
tory, although  both  Chaucer  and  Dryden  go  on  with  the 
description  as  though  they  might  still  be  speaking  of  the 
Temple  of  Mars  which  appears  in  one  of  the  paintings. 
Notice  that  throughout  the  passage  the  influence  of  the 
planet  Mars  is  confused  with  that  of  Mars,  the  god  of  war. 

1178.  D.    What  is  the  underlying  thought  of  the  line? 

1182.    Lawn.    D.    Another  subject  of  stood. 

1187.     Clottered.    D.     Clotted. 

12O2.  Mars  his  nature.  In  Dry  den's  time  the  apos- 
trophe s  was  thought  to  be  a  broken  down  and  incorrect 
form  of  the  possessive  pronoun.  V.  also  1.  1214. 

121O.  Scarlet  cotiquext.  A  figure  representing  Conquest 
in  a  scarlet  robe.  Is  the  figure  of  Victory  usually  that 
of  a  man  or  woman? 

1217.  Dry  den's  clause,   VVho  lost  the  world  for  love,  is 
out   of   place  here,  since  it  suggests  that  the  picture  of 
Antony  belongs  in  the  Temple  of  Venus. 

1218.  Fane.    D.     Derivation? 

1221.  Does  Mars  really  look  redder  than  the  other 
planets  '. 

1224.  "To  form  geomantic  figures,  proceed  thus:  Take 
a  pencil  and  hurriedly  jot  down  on  a  paper  a  number  of  dots 
in  a  line,  without  counting  them.  Do  the  same  three  times 
more.  Now  count  the  dots,  to  see  whether  they  are  odd  or 
even.  If  the  dots  in  a  line  are  odd,  put  one  dot  on  another 
small  paper,  half-way  across  it.  If  they  are  even,  put  down 
two  dots,  one  towards  each  side,  arranging  the  results  in  four 
rows,  one  beneath  the  other."  (From  Mr.  W.  W.  Skeat's 
Notes  on  the  Canterbury  Tales.) 

Mr.  Skeats  gives  the  figures  Puella  and  Rubeus  thus  : 


There  were  sixteen  of  these  geomantic  figures,  each  with 
its  name,  its  element,  its  planet  and  its  sign,  and  the  astrol- 
ogers sometimes  made  their  divinations  from  these  figures 
instead  of  taking  the  actual  position  of  the  stars.  Geo- 


158  NOTES 

m'ancy  was  sometimes  called  "  divination  by  spotting/'  and 
was  a  sort  of  abbreviated  astrology ;  the  figures  were  made 
at  first  by  throwing  pebbles  carelessly  upon  the  ground 
(VTJ),  from  which  the  science  took  its  name. 

1226.  D.  A  planet  is  direct  when  it  appears  to  move 
from  west  to  east  with  the  signs  of  the  Zodiac,  and  retro- 
grade when  it  appears  to  move  from  east  to  west. 

123O.    Shades.    D.     Of  trees. 

1233.  Manifest  of  shame.  D.  A  Latinism,  meaning  with 
shame  manifest. 

1235.  Peculiar  grace.    D.    Jupiter  was  especially  merci- 
ful in  placing  the  mother  and  the  son  near  each  other. 

1236.  In  the  cold  circle.    D.    The  Arctic  circle. 
1239.    What  should  we  say  instead  of  unknowing  off 
1243-44.    The  next  wall-painting  showed  the  Greeks 

assembled  in  a  temple,  and  the  next  showed  them  in  pursuit 
of  the  boar  sent  by  Diana  to  ravage  Calydon.  There  is  no 
connection  between  the  lines,  except  possibly  that  the 
Greeks  prayed  to  Diana  before  they  started  on  the  hunt ; 
but  that  idea  is  scarcely  logical,  since  it  was  Diana's  wish 
that  the  boar  should  punish  CEneus  for  his  slight  to  her. 

1249.  The  Volscian  Queen.  D.  Camilla,  V.  Glossary 
under  Camilla. 

1259.  Wexing.    C.     Waxing,  growing. 

1260.  Why  is  the  moon's  light  called  borrowed? 
1262.    Alternate  sway.      Diana   was    confused    by   the 

Romans  with  Hecate,  the  goddess  of  night  and  the  world  of 
spirits,  and  also  with  Persephone,  wife  of  Pluto.  From 
1. 1489  it  appears  that  Dry  den  confuses  her  with  Persephone, 
and  means  that  she  rules  in  Hades  part  of  the  year.  Notice 
that  the  planet  and  the  goddess  are  confused. 

1271-72.  D.  Notice  how  the  unity  of  the  passage  is 
broken  by  these  two  lines,  which  drop  out  of  the  particular 
past  time  into  an  indefinite  present  time. 


NOTES  159 

BOOK  III 

1279.  Round  the  world.  D.  Chaucer  has  no  parallel 
phrase. 

129O.  The  fair.    D.    The  fair  sex. 

1292.  Not  scarce.    Modern  use  drops  the  nut. 

1311.  Jamheux.  Jambeaux.  From  French,  jambe,  the 
leg. 

1322.  Unity  of  construction  would  require  the  phrase 
"  round  and  long  of  arm,"  in  place  of  the  clause. 

1337.  His  only  in  the  sense  that  they  were  Palamoa's, 
and  that  after  Palamon  himself  he  led  Palamon's  forces. 

1365.  Reclaimed.     D.    Tamed,  trained. 

1366.  His.    In  reality  Arcite's. 
1377.  War.    Troops.     Metonymy. 

1379.    Sunday-    C.     A  startling  anachronism. 

1384.  By  the  change  of  what  one  word  might  the 
change  in  subject  and  in  voice  have  been  avoided? 

1389.    How.     To  what  lady. 

1392.    Construction  of  the  nouns  *$i{/7is  and  love? 
.14OO.     Preventing.     D.     Used  in  its  literal  sense ;  preven- 
ire,  to  go  before. 

1407.  Sliding.    D.    Probably  used   in   allusion  to  the 
ancient  idea  that  each  of  the  heavenly  bodies  was  set  in  its 
own  crystalline  sphere,  and  that  all  these  spheres  "slid" 
around  each  other  in  the  heavens,  with  the  earth  as  a  cen- 
ter.   The  Sun  was  in  the  fourth  of  these  spheres  and  Venus 
in  the  third;  therefore,   Venus  was  nearer  the  earth,  or 
beneath  the  Sun. 

1408.  Become,  for  consistency,  should  be  becomest. 
141O.     Thy  month.    May. 

1417.  Gladder.    C.    Thou  who  dost  make  glad. 

1418.  Increase  of  Jove.    Daughter  of  Jove.     Companion 
of  the  Sun  because  Venus  is  the  morning  star. 

1 44O.  Fifth.    A  mistake  for  third. 

1441.  Clue.  Thread.  Palamon  makes  no  reference  to  the 
Fates  in  Chaucer's  version. 

1444.  Cut  below  your  line.  D.  Let  the  Fates  cut  off 
the  thread  of  my  life  before  I  am  without  love,  for  I  prefer 
to  live  a  short  time  with  love  rather  than  a  long  time  with- 


100  NOTES 

out  it.  Express  in  a  simile  the  comparison  implied  by  the 
metaphors  of  this  passage  through  line  1446. 

1  457.  D.  Palarnon  took  the  fact  that  the  flame  was  so 
slow  in  coming  as  a  sign  that  he  must  wait  a  long  time  for 
the  fulfillment  of  his  prayer. 

1465.     Vests.     D.     Vestments. 

148O.    Ma&tless.     Without  acorns. 

1494.  Feathered  deaths.  D.  Feathered  arrows.  What 
figure? 

15O1.     Servant.    Lover. 

15O4.  Diana  was  the  goddess  of  the  moon,  of  the  chase, 
and,  as  Persephone,  of  Hades.  V.  note  on  1.  1362. 

1519.    D.    Tell  why  this  line  is  inappropriate. 

1 52O-2 1 .    What  rhetorical  fault  in  the  lines ? 

1522.  This  first  burning  fire  means  Palamon,  the  victor- 
flame  in  1.  1526  means  Arcite.  Trace  the  fulfillment  of 
this  prophecy  as  you  read  the  rest  of  the  poem. 

1 528.    Literal  meaning  of  irrevocable  ? 

1541.    The  rest.    As  for  the  rest. 

1546.  D.  Incoherent  construction  ;  unwilling  should 
limit  one  implied  in  my,  and  doomed  should  limit  thee. 

1549.  Which  the  man,  1  e.,  who  is  to  win  ?  Thunderer, 
Jupiter. 

1556,  Disclaimed.  D.  Deserted  by  Diana.  Therefore 
she  is  no  longer  a  sister  of  the  wood,  i.  e.,  one  of  Diana's 
followers. 

1 562-63.  The  seven  planets  that  were  supposed  to  con- 
trol the  destiny  of  man  were  the  Sun,  the  Moon,  and  Saturn, 
Jupiter,  Mars,  Venus,  and  Mercury.  Each  hour  in  the  day 
was  said  to  be  controlled  by  one  of  these  planets.  V. 
Skeat's  Chaucer,  Vol.  V.,  p.  86. 

1579-82.  D.  To  what  lines  in  the  early  part  of  the  poem 
does  this  passage  refer  ? 

1585.  Nor  has  Mars  forgotten  his  own  pain  when  he 
was  a  lover  himself. 

1587.    Cf.  1.  1417. 

1598.  Unpractised  to  2*rsuad'e.  D.  What  is  the  modern 
idiom  ? 

16O1.     Or.     Either. 

1 6O7.    For.     For  the*  sake  of. 


NOTES  161 

1629.  Clone.  D.  Enclosed  space.  What  is  the  usual 
meaning  of  the  noun  ? 

1 653.  Leaden.  D.  In  astrology,  lead  was  the  metal  which 
was  thought  best  to  indicate  the  influence  of  Saturn. 

166O.  A  blind  line,  which  is  perhaps  a  mistranslation 
of  Chaucer's.  Age  may  be  outrun  by  youth,  but  not  sur- 
passed in  good  counsel. 

1661-62.  D.  Venus  and  Saturn  were  120  degrees  (a 
trine)  apart,  and  Saturn  obscured  (i.e.,  gulled),  Mars. 
Therefore  Saturn  and  Venus  would  work  together  and 
overcome  Mars. 

1663.  In  his  own  abode.  D.  In  the  same  sign  of  the 
zodiac. 

1666.  C.  Saturn  promises  to  answer  both  the  prayrr 
of  Palamon  and  the  prayer  of  Arcite. 

1673.  Three  signs  of  the  zodiac  were  "  watery,"  three 
"  earthy,''  three  "  fiery,"  and  three  "  airy."  When  Saturn 
is  in  a  "  watery  •'  sign,  he  wrecks  ships,  etc. 

168O.  When  he  speaks  of  the  u  chertes  rebellynge," 
Chaucer  is  probably  thinking  of  Jack  Straw's  rebellion. 
When  Dryden  speaks  of  churls  who  rebel  against  their 
native  prince,  he  may  easily  be  thinking  of  the  Revolution 
of  1688  which  drove  James  II.  from  the  throne. 

1682.    Who  is  housing  ?    A  misrelated  participle. 

1694.  Complexions.  C.  Temperaments.  Medieval  physi- 
ology taught  that  there  were  four  temperaments,  the 
choleric,  the  sanguine,  the  phlegmatic  and  the  melan- 
cholic. 

17O3.     According  to  1.  13T9  this  day  was  Monday. 

1711-14.     D. 

1747.     Emetrius. 

175O.     Lycurgus. 

1761.  Cap-arpe.  Cap-a-pie.  French  for  u  from  head  to 
foot." 

1766.  Who  did  the  siyuiny  f  Another  raisrelated  par- 
ticiple. 

1769.  Bespeaks.     D.     Speaks    to;    a    poetic    use    only. 
What  is  the  prose  meaning  ? 

1770.  In  his  mind.    D.     A  Latinism. 
1774.     Rebate.    D.     Abate. 


162  NOTES 

1788.    At  mischief.     C.     At  disadvantage. 

179O.  Captives  made.  If  made  captives  they  cannot 
again  enter  the  fight. 

1792.     Chief  of  either  side.     Palamon  or  Areite. 

1796.  Vaulted  firmament.  The  throne  of  1.  1759  must, 
then,  have  been  out  of  doors,  perhaps  in  the  court  of  the 
palace. 

1814.  Southern  gate.  The  other  three  gates  were  per- 
haps less  accessible  because  of  the  three  temples. 

1824.     The  guards.    Object  of  ovei*bear. 

1831.    Divides  the  plain.    D.    Takes  his  half  of  the  lists. 

1837.     Appropriateness  of  the  word  shares  ? 

1841.  Sized.     Matched. 

1842.  Literal  meaning  of  nice  ? 

1844.  Grammatically  ranged  limits  herald  ;  what  should 
it  limit  to  express  the  thought  ? 

1855.  In  the  rest.  C.  In  the  rest  at  the  side  of  the  sad- 
dle, ready  for  action. 

1861.     Shock.     D.     Come  together. 

1879.     This.    This  knight. 

19O1.     Who  was  the  tiger  and  who  the  lion  ?    V.  1.  812. 

1914.    He.     Emetrius  struck  Palamon. 

1922.     Construction  of  overpowered  f 

1928.    Hateful.     Full  of  hate,  V.  1.  214. 

1941.     V.  Glossary  under  Cronus. 

1947.  Her  will  refused.  What  word  must  be  supplied  to 
make  the  expression  correspond  in  form  with  the  clause 
connected  to  it  by  and  ? 

195O.     The  blustering  fool.     D.     Mars. 

1952.  Scan  the  line,  noticing  the  elision  in  fh? arrears. 
The  elision  is  rare  in  Dry  den,  but  very  frequent  in  Chaucer. 
Indeed,  Chaucer  sometimes  runs  the  two  words  together  in 
spelling  as  well  as  in  sound.  V.  Theffect,  footnote  on  1. 
1560. 

The  arrears  (D)  means  the  unfulfilled  promise  of  Venus 
to  Palamon. 

1963.    Endlong.    C.    Headlong. 

1969-7O.    Another  instance    of    Dry  den's   fashion   of 
breaking  the  unity  of  a  passage  to  make  a  general  com- 
ment. 


NOTES  163 

1976.  Quivered  with  JIM  feet.  D.  Cf.  Latin  ablative  of 
specification. 

1992.  Compelled.    D.     Notice  the  literal  meaning1;  com,- 
2^ellere,  to  drive  together. 

1993.  How  may  it  be  determined  from  the  structure 
of  the  sentence  that  composed  is  a  verb,  and  not  a  participle  * 

1996.  Notice  the  omission  of  the  principal  verb.,  In 
prose,  the  full  form,  was  the  fact  that  none  were  slain,  would  be 
necessary. 

20 1O.  Another  elliptical  expression.  It  proms  only  that 
tlie  victor,  etc. 

2O21.    Impairs.     D.     Is  impaired. 

2O27.     Breathing  veins.     Blood-letting. 

2O31.  Bellows.  Is  the  metaphor  a  happy  one  ?  Why 
not  >. 

2O44.  Against  right.  Is  this  the  first  time  that  Arcite 
acknowledges  that  he  is  in  the  wrong  ? 

2057.  Officious.  The  literal  meaning  from  offlciosus;  ready 
to  serve.    What  is  the  meaning  now  ? 

2058.  Excuse   my  faltering  tongue,  (which    cannot    tell 
you)  how  I  have  loved. 

2O6O-65.  What  words  would  have  to  be  differently 
placed  in  prose  ? 

2O69.  Notice  ho\v  entirely  unspiritual  Arcite's  idea 
of  death  is. 

2O78.    Why  does  Arcite  call  Emily  his  foe  ? 

2O9O.     Derivation  of  concurrent  ? 

21 02.  D.  We  have  often  proved  our  affection  for  each 
other. 

21O9.    Below.     Upon  his  limbs. 

211O-11.    He.     Death. 

2112-16.    He.    Arcite. 

2117.  Who.  What  word  does  modern  idiom  require 
after  such? 

21 16-25.  How  much  does  this  passage  add  to  the  story 
of  Arcite  ?  It  is  freely  translated  from  Chaucer,  and 
enlarged. 

2129.    Her  lover's.     Arcite's. 

2135.  D.  The  idea  is  not  clearly  expressed.  It  prob- 
ably refers  to  sorrow,  1.  2132. 


164  NOTES 

2142.  Bat  Hector  was  not  then.  The  time  of  this  story  is 
supposed  to  precede  that  of  the  Trojan  war. 

2147-54.  A  very  loosely  constructed  sentence.  -Eyeux 
is  the  antecedent  of  who,  altering  limits  /ate,  good  and  deliijht 
are  in  apposition  with  vicissitudes. 

2155-62.    These  are  the  ideas  that  JSgeus  expresses. 

2164.  D.  The  line  is  inartistic,  not  only  because  it  in- 
troduces an  idea  foreign  to  the  subject,  but  also  because  it 
gives  an  exaggerated  idea  of  the  fickleness  of  mankind. 

2177.     Sere-wood.     Dry  wood. 

Doddered.  Decayed,  and  covered  with  a  vine  called 
dodder. 

218O.  Yulcanian  food.  Fuel,  the  food  of  fire,  of  which 
Vulcan  was  the  god.  V.  Glossary. 

2197.  D.    The  hair,  which  was  worn  in  long   flowing 
locks,  was  considered  by  the  ancients   a  sacred  offering. 
V.  1.  1633. 

2198.  Chief.    Chief  mourner. 
22O4.    Achievements.    Accoutrements. 

2212.  The  master-street.  C.  The  principal  street.  Old 
cities  had  a  chief  street  which  was  to  the  others  what  the 
spinal  cord  is  to  the  nervous  system  of  the  body. 

2225.  D.  The  pile  was  so  high  that  even  a  bow  made 
by  the  Parthians,  the  best  bowmen  of  the  time,  could  not 
send  an  arrow  to  the  top  of  it. 

2232.  D.  Spear  shafts  were  made  of  the  wood  of  the 
ash. 

2233-34.     Prove  the  appropriateness  of  the  epithets. 

2237.  Unity  of  construction  would  demand,  and  "//<(/ 
the  nymphs  were  called  (shall  rest  untold).  The  nymphs  that 
lived  in  trees  were  called  dryads. 

2239.  Nor.    And  would  be  better,  with  the  negative 
untold  in  the  predicate. 

2240.  Dinherited.    D.     Disinherited.     When  a  tree  was 
destroyed  the  dryad  who  lived  in  it  was  left  without  a 
home. 

2244.  Stranger  is  in  apposition  with  ground. 

2296.  Cause  and  Spring  of  motion.    The  Creator. 

2299.  D.     The  jarring  seeds  were    fire,   water,   earth 

and   air,  usually   called    the  elements,  frdm   which    the 


NOTES  10"> 

whole  universe  was  supposed  to  have  sprung.  The  ancients 
thought  that  these  elements  warred  with  each  other  dur- 
ing- the  first  period  of  the  creation,  which  they  called 
Chaos. 

2311.  Suborn.  D.  Usually  said  of  a  witness  who  is 
hired  to  testify  falsely  in  a  law  court.  The  idea  is  that 
they  are  dealing1  unfairly  by  putting*  an  end  to  their  lives 
before  the  appointed  time  has  come. 

2322.  The  ethereal  fire.     D.     The  soul. 

2323.  D.      Man's    mortal  part    decays,    and    is    taken 
up  again  by  the  earth.     It   is  interesting  to  notice  that 
Dry  den  had  this  idea,  which  has  been  so  greatly  developed 
by  modern  science ;  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  this  expres- 
sion of  the  thought   in  a  speech  which  is  supposed  to  give 
consolation  for  the  death  of  Arcite  is  very  artistic. 

2345.     D.     He  grudges  his  parents  their  authority. 

2349.  Kich  of   three  souls.     D.     Rich    in    having  three 
souls.    The  medieval  conception   was   that  a  person  had 
three  souls,  the  vegetive,  which  controlled  the  unconscious 
plant-like  life  of  the  body,  the  sensitive,  which  controlled 
the  conscious  life  of  the  senses,  and  the  rational,  which 
controlled  the  mind.     These  souls  developed  one  after  the 
other. 

2350.  D.     Some,  who  live  long  enough  to  develop  all 
three  souls,  merely  waste  their  lives ;  but  thousands  more 
die  before  the  "  rational  soul  "  has  been  developed. 

2352.  First.  D.  First  stage  of  life,  when  only  the  VC.LT- 
«>tive  soul  has  been  developed. 

2371.    Joy  us  of.     Congratulate  us  upon. 
2381.     D.     On  him  (their  sorrow)  is  lost. 
24O8.     D.     Emily  gives  her  hand  to  Theseus. 


GLOSSARY 


Actaeon.  1.258.  A  famous  hunts- 
man, who  saw  Artemis  (Diana) 
while  she  was  bathing,  and  was 
changed  by  her  into  a  stag.  His 
own  hounds  pursued  and  killed 
him. 

Adonis,  i.  1419.  The  beautiful 
youth  whom  Venus  loved.  While 
hunting,  he  was  killed  by  a  boar. 

^geos.  I.  2149.  One  of  the  early 
kings  of  Athens,  and  the  father 
of  Theseus. 

^Esop.  1.  342.  The  author  of  a 
large  number  of  fables  which 
teach  practical  lessons  by  the  con- 
versation of  animals.  The  tradi- 
tion is,  that  ^sop  was  a  slave,  who 
lived  in  Phrygia  about  600  B.  C. 

Amazons.  1.  17.  A  mythical  race 
of  women-warriors,  who  lived 
north  of  the  Black  Sea,  and  who 
were  the  subject  of  .many  legends. 
Both  Hercules  and  Theseus  were 
said  to  have  fought  with  and 
subdued  them. 

Antony.  1.  1217.  -  Mark  Antony, 
with  Lepidus  and  Octavius  Caesar, 
formed  the  second  triumvirate. 
At  Actinm  he  defeated  his  own 
cause  by  withdrawing  from  the 
battle  to  follow  Cleopatra's  ship. 
As  a  consequence,  Octavius  be- 
came Empeiorof  Rome.  V.An- 
tony and  Clenpatra,  Act  III.,  Sc. 
10  and  li. 

Apollo.  1.  1242.  Son  of  Zeus  and 
brother  of  Artemis.  He  was  the 
god  of  light  and  music.  He  loved 
the  nymph  Daphne. 


Arcite.  Chaucer  pronounced  the 
name  Ar-se'-te,  Dryden,  Ar'-sTte 
or  Ar-slte'.  Chaucer's  pronuncia- 
tion is  in  best  accord  with  Greek 
pronunciation. 

Argus.  1.  552.  A  giant,  who  had 
eyes  all  over  his  head  and  body. 
Hermes,  at  Zeus1  command,  put 
all  the  eyes  to  sleep  by  using  his 
caduoeus  and  flute,  and  then  be- 
headed the  monster. 

Ascanius.  Ded  1.  162.  Also  called 
lulus;  the  son  of  ^Eneas. 

Atalanta.  1.  1246.  The  fleet-footed 
maiden  who  first  touched  the 
boar  in  the  Calydonian  hunt,  and 
to  whom  Meleager  accordingly 
gave  the  "  envied  prize"  of  the 
boar's  head  and  skin.  Meleager 'a 
love  for  her  led  him  to  kill  his 
uncles;  hence  the  "  fatal  power  of 
Atalanta's  eyes."  V.  CEnides. 

Athens.  1.5.  The  capital  of  Attica, 
and  the  most  famous  city  of 
Greece.  Tradition  says  that  The- 
seus gave  the  city  a  constitutional 
government  and  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  its  greatness. 

Aurora.  1.  186.  Goddess  of  dawn. 
She  is  said  by  the  poets  to  ride  in 
her  chariot,  which  is  drawn  by  the 
swift  horses  Lampus  and  Phaeton, 
along  the  stream  of  Ocean  and  up 
to  Heaven,  to  announce  to  the 
gods  first  and  then  to  mortals 
that  the  light  of  day  is  about  to 
appear. 

Bacchus.  1.  1375.  Called  by  the 
Greeks  Dionysus.  He  was  the 


166 


GLOSSARY 


167 


god  of  wine,  song  and  revelry, 
and  was  pictured  as  followed  by 
a  train  of  both  men  and  animals. 
He  went  even  to  India  to  intro- 
duce vine-culture. 

Cadmus.  1.  703.  The  legendary 
hero  who  built  the  citadel  of 
Thebes.  Before  doing  so  he  slew 
the  dragon  which  Mars  (Ares)  had 
sent  to  guard  the  place,  and  thus 
incurred  the  hatred  of  Mars  and 
Juno. 

Caesar.  1. 1215.  Caius  Julius  Caesar, 
Roman  consul,  general  and  dicta- 
tor, was  assassinated  in  the  capitol 
at  Rome  March  15th  (the  Ides)  44 
B.C.  A  soothsayer  warned  him 
not  to  go  to  the  capitol  that 
day.  V.  Plutarch's  Lives  and 
Shakspere's  Julius  Caesar,  Act  II., 
Sc.2, 

Calisto  or  Callisto.  1.  1233.  A 
nymph  of  Artemis  (Diana),  who 
was  punished  for  a  crime  by  being 
changed  to  a  bear.  She  was  slain 
by  Artemis,  and  became  a  star  in 
the  constellation  of  the  Bear. 
Her  son  was  placed  beside  her  in 
the  constellation. 

Calydonia.  1.  1244.  A  city  and 
region  in  -Etolia.  Homer  speaks 
of  the  beauty  and  fertility  of  the 
plain  of  "  lovely"  Calydon. 

Camilla.  1.  1249.  Queen  of  the 
Volscians,  and  a  votress  of  Diana. 
In  JEaeas's  war  against  the  Vol- 
scians one  of  his  followers,  Aruns, 
killed  Camilla.  Diana  avenged 
Camilla's  death  by  causing  the 
death  of  Aruns. 

Capaneus.  1.76.  One  of  the  Seven 
Against  Thebes.  (V.Thebes.)  He 
was  scaling  the  wall,  boasting  that 
even  a  thunderbolt  from  Zeus 
should  not  keep  him  from  enter- 
ing the  city,  when  Zeus  slew  him 
with  a  thunderbolt.  His  wife's 
name  was  Evadne.  (V.  1.  55.) 


Ceres.  Ded  1. 65.  The  goddess  of 
harvest  and  agriculture. 

Circe.  1. 1115.  An  enchantress  into 
whose  hands  Odysseus  fell  on  his 
way  home  from  the  Trojan  war. 
In  order  to  detain  Odysseus  she 
gave  part  of  his  crew  drugged 
wine  and  turned  them  into  beasts. 

Citheroii.  1.  1108.  Dryden  prob- 
ably meant  Cythe  ra,  an  island 
near  Crete,  from  which  the  wor- 
ship of  Aphrodite  (Venus)  was 
carried  to  Greece.  Possibly  the 
reference  is  to  a  range  of  moun- 
tains in  Greece,  called  Cithaeron ; 
but  these  mountains  were  espe- 
cially consecrated  to  Zeus  and 
Dionysus. 

Creon.  1.81.  Called  by  Sophocles 
the  "Tyrant  of  Thebes."  (V. 
Thebes.)  He  was  the  uncle  of 
Antigone,  Polynices  and  Eteocles. 
His  refusal  to  let  Antigone  bury 
her  brother,  who  had  fallen  in  the 
expedition  of  the  Seven  Against 
Thebes,  is  the  subject  of  Sopho- 
cles's  Antigone.  The  complaint  of 
the  widows  of  the  other  leaders  of 
that  expedition,  given  in  1. 55-88,  is 
the  occasion  of  Theseus's  march- 
ing on  Thebes.  Theseus  conquered 
the  city  and  put  Creon  to  death. 

Cronus.  1. 1698.  Sometimes,  though 
less  correctly,  spelled  Chronus. 
The  son  of  Uranus  (Heaven)  and 
Gaea  (Earth),  and  the  father  of 
Zeus.  He  overthrew  his  father, 
placed  himself  on  the  throne  and 
thus  established  the  second  dy- 
nasty of  the  gods;  but  he  was 
overthrown  in  turn  by  his  son, 
Zeus,  who  established  the  third 
dynasty.  The  Romans  identified 
Cronus  with  Saturn,  whom  they 
considered  the  great  compromiser 
among  the  gods. 

Capid.  1. 1130.  The  son  of  Venus 
and  the  god  of  love.  He  is  repre- 


168 


GLOSSARY 


seated  as  a  winged  boy,  carrying  a 
golden  bow  and  a  golden  quiver 
full  of  arrows.  Whoever  he  hit 
with  an  arrow  was  overcome  with 
the  power  of  love. 

Cynthia.  1.  1231.  The  name  given 
to  Artemis  from  Mt.  Cynthws,  in 
the  Island  of  Delos,  where  she 
was  born.  The  name  was  after- 
wards applied  by  the  Romans  to 
Diana,  whom  they  identified  with 
Artemis. 

Cyprus.  1.  261.  The  same  as  the 
modern  Cyprus.  Aphrodite  (Ve- 
nus) was  said  to  have  been  born 
on  the  island,  and  was  therefore 
called  the  Cyprian  Queen. 

Elisa.  Ded.  1. 162.  Dido,  Queen  of 
Carthage. 

Daphne.  1. 1241.  A  nymph,  daugh- 
ter of  the  river-god  Peneus.  When 
Apollo  pursued  her  she  prayed  to 
Artemis  to  save  her  from  his  love, 
and  Artemis  changed  her  into  a 
laurel  tree. 

Diana.  1.  1228.  The  Roman  god- 
dess who  corresponded  to  the 
Greek  Artemis.  She  was  the 
deity  of  the  moon,  the  chase  and 
the  forest. 

Etesian.  Ded.  1.  46.  From  fros, 
a  year.  Periodical  winds,  es- 
pecially the  favorable  north 
winds  which  blew  on  the  yEgean 
for  forty  days  after  the  rising  of 
the  dog-star. 

Fates.  1.  1441.  (Ded.  40.)  Also  called 
Moerae  or  Moirae,  and  Parcae. 
They  were  sisters;  Clotho  spun 
the  thread  of  life.  Lachesis  deter- 
mined how  long  it  should  be,  and 
A  tropos  cut  it  off.  They  are  some- 
times represented  as  deciding  the 
fates  both  of  gods  and  of  men, 
sometimes  as  subject  to  the  will 
of  Zeus. 

Graces.  Bed.  1.  150.  The  three 
goddesses  of  grace,  beauty  and  joy. 


Hector.  1,  2142.  Son  of  Priam, 
King  of  Troy.  He  was  the  leader 
of  the  Trojans  when  the  Greek* 
besieged  the  city  and  his  fall  led  to 
the  victory  of  the  Greeks. 

Hermes.  1.  547.  Called  by  the 
Romans  Mercury, the  messenger  of 
the  gods,  and  especially  of  Zeus. 
He  was  also  the  god  of  dreams, 
and  his  wand,  the  caduceus,  was 
"  sleep-compelling." 

Hibernia.  Ded  1.  53.  The  Latin 
name  for  Ireland. 

Hippolyta.  1.  7.  The  Queen  of  the 
Amazons  whom  Theseus  married 
after  conquering  her  followers. 

Idalia.  1.  1108.  The  name  of  a 
forest  and  town  in  Cyprus  saertM 
to  Aphrodite  (Ven us);  there  is  no 
mention  of  a  mountain  near  the 
place. 

Jove  or  Jupiter.  1.  759.  (Ded.  133.) 
Called  by  the  Greeks  Zeus.  He  was 
the  king  of  gods  and  men  and  his 
wrill  was  supreme.  He  was  called 
the  Thunderer  because,  as  king  of 
heaven,  he  controlled  the  powers 
of  the  air,  and  hurled  the  thunder- 
bolts. 

Juno.  1.  260.  Called  by  the  Greeks 
Hera.  She  was  the  wife  of  Jupi- 
ter, and  queen  of  the  gods. 

Tjycnrgus.  1.  1315.  There  was  a 
king  of  Thrace  by  this  name  who 
was  said  to  have  expelled  Dionysus 
from  his  kingdom.  Probably, 
however,  Chaucer  had  no  definite 
person  in  mind. 

Mars.  1.  500.  The  god  of  war  He 
is  the  son  of  Juno  and  corresponds 
to  the  Greek  god  Ares. 

Macedon,  The.  Ded.  1. 133.  Al«>x- 
ander  the  Great,  King  of  Macedon, 
the  country  north  of  Greece. 

Medea.  1.1115.  The  daughter  of  the 
King  of  Colchis,  and  an  enchant- 
ress. By  her  charms  she  helped 
Jason  to  get  the  golden  fleece. 


GLOSSARY 


llil) 


Minotaur.  1.  116.  The  Bull  of 
Minos,  a  monster  with  the  head  of 
a  bull  and  the  body  of  a  man.  He 
was  hid  in  the  labyrinth  of  Crete, 
and  fed  on  youths  an<I  maidens, 
sent  as  tribute  from  Athens,  until 
Theseus,  with  Ariadne's  help, 
penetrated  the  labyrinth  and  slew 
him. 

Morley.  Ded.  1.  131.  Dr.  Morley 
was  physician  to  the  Duchess  of 
Ormond. 

Nurrissus.  1.  1112.  A  beautiful 
youth,  the  son  of  a  river  god,  who 
rejected  the  love  of  the  nymph 
Echo.  Aphrodite  punished  him 
by  making  him  fall  in  love  with 
his  own  face,  reflected  in  a  pool. 
He  pined  away  and  died  because 
he  could  not  withdraw  his  eyes 
from  the  reflection. 

Nereids.  Ded.  1.  45.  Sea-nymphs, 
daughters  of  the  sea-god  Nereus. 

>Mobe.  1. 1494.  Wife  of  Amphlon, 
King  of  Thebes.  She  boasted  that 
«he  was  superior  to  Leto  because 
she  had  six  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters while  Leto  had  only  two  chil- 
dren, Apollo  and  Artemis.  As 
punishment,  Leto  had  Apollo  and 
Artemis  kill  all  of  Niobe's  chil- 
dren with  their  arrows. 

CEnides.  1.  1245.  Meleager.  The 
form  CEnides  is  a  patronymic 
from  GEneus.  (Eneuj,  King  of 
Calydonia,  offended  Artemis  by 
forgetting  to  offer  sacrifice  to 
her.  She  accordingly  sent  a  boar 
to  ravage  his  country.  His  son 
Meleager,  who  was  a  famous 
Greek  hero  and  who  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Argonautic  ex- 
pedition, called  together  a  num- 
ber of  Greek  warriors  to  hunt 
the  boar.  They  killed  it,  but 
Artemis,  in  revenge,  stirred  up 
a  quarrel  among  them  about  the 
possession  of  the  boar's  skin. 


Meleager  gave  the  prize  to  Atu- 
lanta,  and  slew  his  mother's 
brothers  for  trying  to  steal  it  from 
her.  Meleager's  mother  had  re- 
ceived a  prophecy  that  her  son 
should  live  as  long  as  a  brand 
which  was  on  the  hearth  when  he 
was  born,  remained  unconsumed. 
Angered  at  the  murder  of  her 
brothers,  she  threw  this  brand 
upon  the  fire,  a:id  her  son  died 
when  the  brand  was  consumed. 

Or  mo  ndt  Duchess  of.  Ded.  Title. 
Daughter  of  Henry  Beaufort,  a 
descendant  of  John  of  Gaunt,  the 
son  of  Edward  Third. 

Pales.  Ded.  1.  65.  The  deity  of 
cattle  and  pastures. 

Parthia.  1.2225.  A  wild  country  of 
indefinite  extent  in  western  Asia, 
east  of  the  Caspian  Sea. 

Penelope.  Ded.  1.  158.  The  wife 
of  Ulysses.  During  Ulysses's  ten 
years'  absence  at  the  Trojan  war 
she  put  off  her  suitors  with 
the  excuse  that  she  could  not 
marry  until  she  had  finished  a 
certain  piece  of  embroidery.  She 
embroidered  during  the  day  time 
and  pulled  out  her  work  at  night. 

Philomel.  1.199.  The  daughter  of 
a  king  of  Attica,  who  was  changed 
into  a  nightingale. 

Phospher.  1. 1396.  The  bringer  of 
light.  The  name  was  given  to 
Venus  when,  she  appeared  as  the 
morning  star. 

Pirithous,  or  Peirithous.  1.  358. 
A  prince  of  Thessaly. 

Plantagenet.  Ded.  1.30.  The  line  of 
kings  of  whom  Henry  Second  was 

^the  first.  They  ruled  in  England 
from  1154-1485,  and  were,  conse- 
quently, the  ruling  family  in 
Chaucer's  time.  The  "  Fairest 
Plantagenet "  was  Joan,  "  The 
Fair  Maid  of  Kent,"  grand- 
daughter of  Edward  First.  She 


170 


GLOSSARY 


was  married  three  times;  her  sec- 
ond husband  was  the  Earl  of 
Salisbury,  and  her  third  the  Black 
Prince,  son  of  Edward  Third. 

Pluto.  1. 1972.  Son  of  Cronus  and 
brother  of  Zeus  and  Poseidon.  He 
was  the  ruler  of  Hades,  and  was 
called  Hades  in  Greek  mythology. 

Portunus.  Ded.  1.  48.  The  god  of 
ports  and  harbors. 

Pruce.    1. 1307.    Prussia. 

Ptolemy.  Ded.  1.  134.  A  general 
of  Alexander  the  Great.  He  after- 
wards became  King  of  Egypt. 

Samson.  1.  1113.  One  of  the  Judges 
of  the  Children  of  Israel,  known 
in  sacred  history  as  the  "strong- 
est man.1'  He  lost  his  strength 
when,  at  the  solicitation  of  Deli- 
lah, he  broke  his  vow.  V.  Judges 
xvi.4-21. 

Saturn.    V.  Cronus. 

Scythia.  1.  7.  A  wild,  uninhabited 
region  of  indefinite  extent  in  east- 
ern Europe  and  western  Asia.  In 
later  times  the  name  was  applied 
more  definitely  to  the  country 
north  of  the  Black  Sea. 

Solomon.  1.  1113.  The  son  of  David 
and  King  of  Israel  at  the  time 
of  that  nation's  greatest  prosper- 
ity. His  heart  was  turned  from  God 
because  he  loved  "  many  strange 
women."  V.  1  Kings  xi.  1-5. 

Statins.  1.1484.  A  Latin  poet  who 
lived  in  Naples  in  the  first  cen- 
tury A.D.  His  chief  poem  was 
the  Thebaid,  a  poem  in  twelve 
books,  which  told  the  stories  of 
the  seven  heroes  who  besieged 
Thebes  under  the  leadership  of 
Polynices.  (V.  Thebes.)  ;1 

Thebes.  1.  77.  The  most  famous 
city  f n Grecian  mythology.  When 
(Edipus  fled  from  Thebes  after 
the  discovery  that  he  had  mur- 
dered his  father,  his  sons  Eteocles 
and  Polynices  succeeded  him. 


They  quarreled,  and  Polynices 
departed  from  the  city  to  gather 
allies.  Six  heroes  joined  him, 
among  them  Capaneus,  and  the 
expedition  has  come  to  be  famous, 
as  the  subject  of  Aeschylus's  trau- 
edy  The  8e»en  Against  Thebes. 

Theseus.  1.  2.  One  of  the  favorite 
legendary  heroes  of  Greece.  The 
stories  about  him  tell  how  he 
went  on  the  Argonautic  expedi- 
tion, how  he  slew  the  Minotaur, 
conquered  the  Amazons,  took  part 
in  theCalydonian  hunt  and  estab- 
lished the  government  of  Athens. 
But  there  is  no  historical  proof 
that  such  a  person  as  Theseus  ever 
lived.  It  is  interesting  to  notice 
that  Shakspere  represents  the 
revel  of  Midsummer  Night1  s  Dream 
as  taking  place  at  the  nuptials  of 
Theseus  and  Hippolyta. 

Thrace.  1.  1137.  A  large  country 
north  of  Greece,of  about  the  same 
extent  as  modern  Turkey.  It  was 
a  wild,  mountainous  region,  inhab- 
ited by  barbarous  tribes,  and 
thought  by  the  Greeks  to  be  for- 
biddingly cold. 

Titan.  1.  1941.  The  oldest  son  of 
Heaven  and  Earth,  and  oldest 
brother  of  Cronus.  When  he  and 
his  offspring,  the  Titans,  tried  to 
get  the  throne  of  Heaven  from 
Cronus,  Zeus  overcame  them  and 
cast  them  down  to  Tartarus. 

Triton.  Ded.  1.  44.  The  Tritons 
were  the  sous  of  Poseidon,  the 
god  of  the  sea. 

Troy.  1.  2141.  The  chief  city  of 
Troas,  in  ancient  Asia  Minor. 
Paris,  son  of  Priam,  King  of  Troy 
and  younger  brother  of  Hector, 
visited  Greece  and  carried  off 
Helen,  the  wife  of  Menelaus,  King 
of  Sparta.  Menelaus  and  his 
brother,  Agamemnon,  led  the 
Greeks  against  Troy,  and  the  siege 


GLOSSARY 


171 


lasted  ten  years.  The  story  of  the 
war  is  told  in  Homer's  Iliad. 

Venus.  1.  262.  The  daughter  of 
Jupiter.  She  is  the  Roman  deity 
corresponding  to  the  Greek  Aphro- 
dite. She  was  the  goddess  of  love 
and  the  mother  of  Cupid.  Her 
symbol  was  the  dove. 

Vespasian.  Bed  1.  125.  Titus,  the 
son  of  the  Emperor  Vespasian.  His 
siege  of  Jerusalem  was  one  of  the 
most  famous  and  one  of  the  most 


horrible  events  in  history.  He 
was  said  to  have  wept  when  he 
saw  the  Temple  of  Jerusalem  in 
names. 

Vulcan.  The  sun  of  Jupiter  and 
Juno,  corresponding  to  the  Greek 
Hephaestus.  He  was  the  husband 
of  Venus.  As  the  artificer  among 
the  gods  he  is  represented  at  his 
anvil,  where,  among  other  things, 
he  forges  the  thunderbolts  of 
Jupiter. 


INDEX 


Page  references  are  to  the  introduction;  line  references,  to  the  poem. 
IXoteson  the  passage  referred  to,  should  also  be  consulted. 


Appearance  and    character,  p. 

13, 14. 

Writings,  p.  12, 13. 
Influence  on  English  language, 

p.  15, 16. 
Style- 
Simplicity  of,  p.  27-29. 

Definiteness  of,  p.  30. 

Conciseness  of,  p.  31. 
Dryden's  estimate  of,  p.  32. 
Classic  age  of  English  literatu-e,  p. 

21,22. 
Construction,  faults  in,  p.  23. 

Examples  of,  1.  109,342,  817,  154ti, 

1947,  2237. 
Cosmography,  ancient,  1.  1407,  2299 

Ded.  1.  29,116. 

Dan,  use  of  title,  footnote  5,  p.  68. 
Dryden. 

Birth,  p.  16. 

Early  life,  p.  16, 17. 

Appointed  poet  laureate,  p.  17. 

Manhood,  p.  17, 18. 

Death,  p.  18. 

Writings,  p  18-20. 

Character,  p.  20-22. 

Style- 
Lack  of  simplicity,  p.  27-29. 
Diffuseness  of,  p.  30. 
Stateliness  of,  p.  31. 
Use  of  words  in  literal  mean- 
ings, p.  28. 

Sentence-structure,  p.  28. 
Generalizations,  p.  30. 

Emily,  first  mentioned,  1, 10. 
In  the  garden,  1  168. 
Prayer  to  Diana,  1.  1487. 
Lights  Arcite's  funeral  pyre,  1. 

2252. 
Betrothal  to  Palamon,  1.  24 iz. 


,  imitation  of,  1.  703. 
Alexandrine  line,  defined,  p.  25. 

Examples  Of,  3.  64,  80,  142,  144, 

150. 
Alliteration,  p.  27. 

Examples  Of,  1.  159. 162, 167, 182. 
Anachronisms,  p.  24. 

Examples  of,  1. 22, 100,  214,  1379. 
Anglo-Saxon  language  fused   with 

Norman  p.  15. 
Arcite. 

First  mentioned,  1. 155. 

Sees  Emily,  1.  271. 

Quarrel  with    Palamon,   1.    281, 

et  seq. 

Released,  1.  369. 
At  Thebes,  1.  518. 
Return  to  Athens,  1.  574. 
Single  combat  with   Palamon, 

1.  787. 

Prayer  to  Mars,  1. 1568. 
^reclaimed  victor,  1.  1936. 
Overthrown,  1.  1976. 
Death,  1.  2115. 
Funeral,  1.  2176,  etteq. 
Astrology,  references  to,  1.  245,  264, 
500,  1224,  1226,  1562,    1653,    1661, 
1673. 

Balanced  sentence,  p.  28. 

Bible,  references  to,  1.  1113.    Bed.  1. 

70,  99.    Wy clirs  Bible,  p.  15. 
Boccaccio,  p.  11,  20,  24. 
Burns,  p.  14. 

Canterbury  Tales,  p.  13,  22,  30-33. 
Chaucer. 

Birth,  p.  9. 

Early  life,  p.  10, 11. 

Manhood,  p.  11, 12. 

Death.,  p.  12. 


172 


INDEX 


173 


Geoaiantic  figures,  1. 1224. 
Grammar,  errors  in,  p.  28. 

Examples  of,  303-4,  606,  7*6,  991. 

Heroic  couplet,  p.  25. 
John  of  Gaunt,  p.  12. 

Knighthood,   references    to,  1.   100, 

233, 290-310,  760-770. 
•Knight's  Tale,  p.  23,  24. 

Laugland's  English,  p.  15. 
J/atinisms,l.  427,  456,950,  1031,1233, 

1239,  1508,  1770,  1976,  1992,  2371. 

Ded.  59. 
Literal  meanings  of  words,  p.  28. 

Examples  of,  1.  214,    644,  736, 

1400, 1528,  1842, 2057, 2090. 
Lydgate's  praise  of  Chaucer,  p.  10. 

Mythology,  references    to,  1.  .1-21. 
81, 116,  357,  713,  1262, 1444,  1585. 

Nature.  Chaucer's  love  of,  p.  14. 

Dry  den's  treatment  of,  p.  21,  29. 
Norman     language,     fused      with 
Anglo-Saxon,  p.  15. 

Oracle,  imitation  of,  1.  554. 
Order  of  Garter,  Ded.  1.  18. 

Palace,  how  built,  1.  204. 
Palamon. 

First  mentioned,  1.  156.' 

Sees  Emily,  1.  229. 

Quarrel  with  Arcite,  1.  281. 

Escape,  1.  619. 

Single  combat  with  Arcite,   1. 
787. 

Prayer  to  Venus,  1. 1405. 

Betrothal  to  Emily,  1.  2412. 
Palamon    and    Arcite,  history   of 

story  of,  p.  23, 24. 
Participle,  misrelated,  1.  1682,  1766, 

1844, 1922. 

Past  tense,  form  in  u,  1. 197. 
Petrarch,  p.  12. 


Physiology,    aucient,    1.    1694,     and 

Ded.  1.  117. 
Of  Dryden's  time,  1.  525,2029-35, 

2325. 
Plantageuet  line  referred  to,  Ded. 

1.  14,30. 

Platonic  year,  Ded.  1  29. 
Poet   laureate,   Dryden  appointed, 

p.  17. 

Pope,  p  28. 
Possessive    case,     substitution    of 

pronoun  for,  1.  1202, 1214. 
Prose,  Dryden's,  p.  20. 

Religion,  Dryden's,  p.  IS. 
Religious  thought,  1.  244,  824,  2069, 

2349. 
Revolution   of  1688   referred  to,  1. 

1680,  and  Ded.  1.  64. 
Rhyme,  p.  25. 
Rhythm,  p.  24,  25. 

Scott's  picture  of  Dryden  in  The 
Pirate,  p.  17^ 

Sequence  of  tense,  false,  1.  321  • 
524-5,  730,  772-3,  789,  808-9. 

Seven  against  Thebes,  ^Eschylus's 
tragedy.  V.  Glossary  under 
Thebes. 

Shakspere,  p.  12,  20. 

Spenser's  praise  of  Chaucer,  p.  16. 

Style.  V.  under  Chaucer  and  Dry- 
den. 

Tennyson's  praise   of   Chaucer,  p 

1G. 

Teseide,  p.  23?  1. 16-23  and  1.  123. 
Thebaid.  V.  Glossary  under  Statius. 

Unity  of  form,  lack  of,  1.  1322. 
Unity  of   thought,  lack   of,  1.  159, 
690-94,  1271-72,  2164. 

Versification,  p.  24-26. 

Westminster  Abbey,  p.  12, 18. 
Westminster  School,  p.  17. 
Wiirs  Coffee  House,  p.  17. 
Wordsworth,  p.  14,  21. 
Wyclif's  English,  p.  15. 


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